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The Wonder Island Boys 

By ROGER T. FINLAY 

A new series of books, each complete in itself, relating 
the remarkable experiences of two boys and a man, 
who are cast upon an island in the South Seas with 
absolutely nothing but the clothing they wore. By the 
exercise of their ingenuity they succeed in fashioning 
clothing, tools and weapons and not only do they train 
nature’s forces to work for them but they subdue and 
finally civilize neighboring savage tribes. The books 
contain two thousand items of interest that every boy 
ought to know. 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
The Castaways 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
Exploring the Island 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
The Mysteries of the Caverns 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
The Tribesmen 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
The Capture and Pursuit 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
The Conquest of the Savages 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
Adventures on Strange Islands 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
Treasures of the Islands 


Large 12mOy cloth. Many illustrcUions. 

60 cents per voL, postpaid. 

PUBLISHED BY 

THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY 

147 Fourth Avenue New York 


ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 










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“The rites were progressing very satisfactorily” 


[See p. 196] 


The Wonder Island Boys 

ADVENTURES ON 
STRANGE ISLANDS 


BY ji/^ 

ROGER T. FINLAY 

n 


ILLUSTRATED 



THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY 
New York 






Copyright, 1915, by 
THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY 



MAR 27 1917 


©CI.A460041 

I' 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTEE 

I. The Strange Oars and Ropes Page 15 

The charted island. Previous history of the boys. The 
professor. Mysteries. The strange oars and ropes. Ex- 
periments. The various trips through the Island. Meet- 
ing the natives. The caves. Finding metals and ores. A 
strange village. 

II. A Mysterious Message Page 26 

The Town of Unity. Enterprises on the island. Building 
a ship. Homesick. Considering the question of other 
islands. Treasure himting. The Krishnos. Their be- 
liefs and practices. The comparison of customs with the 
white people. Preparing to launch the vessel. The pro- 
fessor decides to remain. Angel. The message. Blakely. 
A scrap of paper with illegible words. The V-shaped 
tracing. Guessing the contents of the note. 

III. The Arrow on the Sheet Page 38 

Deciphering the discolored paper. The arrow on the 
sheet. The first Walter letter. The comparison. Di- 
mensions of the vessel. The engine. The professor and 
John’s error. Pointing to an island. Convinced of the 
correctness of the boys’ views. Laimching of the vessel. 
The feast day. Putting up the rigging. Selecting a crew. 
Preliminary trials. The day for departure. The trip to 
Valparaiso. Reshipping to New York. Telegrams home 
after three years. Angels and the wonders of New York. 
The great change in the boys. The return to Wonder 
Island. Reaching Valparaiso. Meeting Blakely. Tlie new 
steamer. Installation of a line to Wonder Island. The 
return trip. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

IV. The Skull with the Cryptic Writing Page 61 

Steaming up Enterprise Kiver. Unity in sight. The na- 
tives at the wharf. The enthusiasm. The chiefs witness 
the arrival. A “Grand Homecoming.” The boys visit the 
natives. Contemplating voyages to discover other islands. 
Native sailors. Sutoto captain of the Pioneer. Rumors 
about the boys. Plans for the proposed trips. The force 
for the expedition. A cargo of copper. The trip to the 
copper treasure cave. Tides. Fireflies. Explanation of 
the light. Light without heat. The problem of light. 
Advantages of light which generates no heat. Color of 
daylight. Phosphorescent glow. Catching fireflies. 
Scaling the heights. The spot where the Walter note 
was found. A skull with mysterious characters on it. 
The mark on the skull and the mark in the message. 
The star. Cryptic signs. 

V. The Trip to the New Island Page 63 

Sutoto at the top of the peak. The telescope. The view 
of Unity. The Iliyas* village. The visit to the last cap- 
tured village. The reception. The kindness of the chief. 
The great change in the village. The feast of John and 
the boys. Happiness of the people. The Iliyas at work. 
Return of the Wonder to Unity. The Pioneer on its way 
to other islands. Seasickness of the crew. Trying the 
new cure. Atrophine, and how administered. Explaining 
its origin, and how it acts. The effect on the crew. 
Driven out of their course. A light in the dense dark- 
ness. Land ahead. Awaiting the morning. Fifty leagues 
from Wonder Island. The cove in the shore line. Anchor- 
ing. The two boats sent ashore. Signs to indicate that 
people lived on the island. Reminiscences of the Yaks and 
bears. The discovery of coffee trees. The wild variety. 
Identity of vegetation in widely-separated countries. 

VI. Discovery of the Island and Explorations Page 75 

Return to the landing. John’s advice. Surveying the 
island. The cardinal points of the compass. Laying out 
the coast line by triangulation. What measurement of 
angles means. Transferring the angles to paper. Making 


CHAPTEE 


CONTENTS 


plans by means of a scale. Proportionate lengths of the 
different limbs of the angles. The shore line to the south. 
Instructions to Sutoto. The party to explore the interior. 
Starting on their mission. The equipment of the party. 
The spears, and bolos. The camera and field glasses. 
Amazing tropical vegetation and fruit. Stone hatchet 
found. Independent exploits of the boys. Temporary 
separation. Disappearance of George. A pistol shot in 
the distance. The search. Evidences of a scuffle. 
George’s tracks found. The footprints of natives. LIuro 
scouting in the direction of the natives. The runner to 
the ship. The Pioneer sailing away. The new landing 
place. Uraso advised of the capture. 

VII. Captube of Geobge by the Natives Page 89 

George’s capture. Hearing John’s whistle. Firing the 
gun. The surprise of the natives. Rendered unconscious. 
He recovers. Sees his gim and glasses in the hands of the 
natives. Discovers that his revolver is still in his pocket. 
The natives see him trying to discover the time by his 
watch. The fight of the savages for the watch. George’s 
determination to escape. The natives discover the re- 
volver. He surprises the natives by explaining the knife 
and glasses. While explaining the glasses accidentally 
discovers the ocean in the distance. The matchsafe. Dis- 
covers the village. Tries to escape before reaching there. 
Planning the details. Surprised at the appearance of 
another party. All hope lost. A powerful Chief. George 
and the Chief. Investigating George’s belongings. How 
George unwittingly told the Chief about the gun and 
glasses. The Chief arrests the captors. George explains 
the weapons. Returns the revolver to George. Invites 
him to the village. In the home of the Chieftain. De- 
scription of the “ Palace.” 

VIII. Fight of the Natives foe the Tbinkets Page 102 

Scouting. Muro’s work. The first traces. Arrival of 
Uraso. His grief at the news. The conference. John 
and party march to the east. Finding George’s chain. 
Evidences of a struggle. Determining the number of en- 


CHAPTEE 


CONTENTS 


emies by tbe footprints. Reading characters by feet. 
How people are distinguished. Observing peculiarities of 
actions. Estimating the number of natives in the party 
which captured George. Discovering the Chief’s foot- 
marks. Judging of the safety of George by the marks of 
the feet. Uraso discovers the tree where George exhibited 
the power of the bullet to the Chief. Inferences as to the 
characters of the natives who captured George. The 
trinkets and buttons of more importance to the savages 
than the person of the captive. Power as the great factor 
with savages. Why right is might. 

IX. The Giant Chief and His “Palace” Page 113 

The Chief interested in George’s belongings. Discovery of 
a ship’s chair. The matchsafe in the Chief’s hands. The 
. imitative quality. The first meal. The peculiar knives 
and forks. The Chief’s capacity for food. The character 
of the meal. The siesta after the meal. George’s oppor- 
tunity. Stealing from the Chief’s house. TTie daughter 
of the Chief. Wandering from the Chief’s house. His 
midnight sleep from exhaustion. The watchers at his bed- 
side. Finding the soap plant. Breakfast. Absence of 
the Chief. George’s suspicions. Follows the Chief. The 
appearance of John and Harry. The meeting. George in- 
troduces the party to the Chief. Uraso and Muro able to 
converse with the Chief. George’s story. “ The Palace.” 
The village. The feast. 

X. Peculiaeities of the Native Teibe Page 125 

How the feast was served. John relates the story of the 
boys to the Chief. The Chief interested in the wonderful 
ship. The story of the island. The runner to the ship. 
No Krishnos on the islands. Sutoto sees the runners. 
Sails for the village. The Chief does not believe in a great 
spirit. His philosophy. Strength is the only right. No 
caves on the island. Disappointment of the boys. Bad 
people to the north. Their own kin, but convicts. Steal- 
ing and lying the only crimes. No crime to steal from 
each other, only from the Chief. The sun as a great Chief. 
The coming of the ship. The natives on the seashore. 


CHAPTEE 


CONTENTS 


Casting of the anchor. Sutoto sees the Chief’s daughter. 
George’s captors on the way to the convict colony. In- 
tercession on the part of the boys. The food at the ban- 
quet. The natives’ aversion to fish. Snake worshippers. 
Witch doctors. The bad god Baigona. Peculiar ideas 
of right and wrong among the natives. The survey of the 
southern part of the island. Triangulation from the 
mast of a ship. 

XI. Sutoto and the Chief’s Daughter Page 137 

Sutoto’s love affair. Cinda, the Chief’s daughter. The , 
Chief is told of the wonders of Wonder Island. About the 
activities of the natives on that island. His curiosity. 
John tells him how the white people live. The acute 
questionings of the Chief. Teaching him how trade and 
commerce is carried on. Money and its uses. How it 
gets its value. Why it is a measure only. The trip to 
the north in charge of the Chief’s son. Gruesome tales 
of the ferocity of the convicts. John still anxious to 
find some particular cave. His chart. The unsolved 
mystery of the boat. The clothing of the natives. 
Bracelets. Glitter to attract natives. Weaving, the 
only industry. The aptness of native women to adopt 
fancy articles of dress and ornament. John’s scheme, 
anticipating the wedding of Sutoto and Cinda. A 
“ State affair.” The mission to the Professor. Sending 
the Pioneer to Wonder Island. Stut captain of the ship. 
Sutoto’s secret mission through Stut. 

XII. The Skeleton Beneath the Boat Page 148 

How the present journey reminded the boys of their first 
adventure on Wonder Island. Peculiar animals. The 
kagu. The fashionable millinery styles. Singular habit 
of the bird. The benne plant. Its remarkable proper- 
ties. Lard from trees. The coffee trees. A tree with 
sandpaper leaves. The indicus. Analyzing soils. How 
plants digest food. Larvae. The early forms of many 
animals. Kinds of food in the earth. The bruang. 
The sun-bear of Malay. The bear and the honey pot. 
How it was tamed. The sport. The ocean. George and 


CHAPTER 


CONTENTS 


Harry at the beach. Bathing in the surf. The discov- 
ery of the wreck of an upturned boat. Finding the com- 
partments belonging to their lost boat on Wonder 
Island. Sending for John. The skeleton beneath the 
upturned boat. The bound skeleton. The startling dis- 
covery of the same kinds of ropes found in their lost 
boat. Evidence of a crime. 

XIII. A Convict Colony of Natives Page 161 

Describing the skeleton. A soldier or an adventurer. 
Their first hatchet. The narrow neck of land. The Rose 
of Jericho. The resurrection plant. The Australian 
kangaroo. The exiled people. The Chief’s son tells about 
them. Explains they do not believe in killing except in 
self-defense. The upas tree. Its fiowering branch. Valu- 
able mineral in the hills. Description of the convict’s 
home. Banishment one of the most serious forms of 
punishment for crimes. The survey of the mountains. 
Hunting for caves. How the parties were organized. 
The infiuence of odors on hmnan actions. Tests of odors 
on patients. How they affect dreams. Calcareous forma- 
tions. Where the real caves are found. Erosive action 
of water on limestone. 

Xrv. A White Paralytic in the Convict Colony Page 174 

The wide search for the caves. George finds a cave 
entrance. Preparing to explore the cave. The lamps. 
A blind lead. A fissure, not an erosion. The joke on 
George. The first sight of the location of the dreaded 
criminal colony. The magnificent wild fruits. The 
beautiful flowers. The first criminals. The industry of 
the peopla Cultivating fruit and vegetables. Hutoton. 
Peculiarity in names. Well-dressed natives. The dis- 
tinguished head of the village. His dignity. The wel- 
come to the village. The well-kept huts. The garden 
plots and bowers of flowers. The criminals preparing a 
feast of welcome. The boys discover a white man. A 
paralytic patient. How the convicts cared for him. Sur- 
prised to leam that the convicts rewarded the men who 
rescued the paralytic. How the savages calculated time. 
The movement of the sim, and how it gave them the time. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

XV. Savage Marriage Customs Page 185 

Criminal Colonies. The effects on the people. Its ad- 
vantages. The principles of punishment. Protecting so- 
ciety. Isolating patients who have contagious or in- 
fectious diseases. Trying to ascertain the identity of the 
paralytic. John’s promise to reward the people for the 
care bestowed on the white man. Eef using to be paid 
for taking care of him. Contrasting Hutoton with Sasite, 
the home of the Chief. Keturning to Sasite. The first 
glimpse of the returning Pioneer. The interesting party 
aboard. The Chief and the entire village at the seashore. 
The Professor. Muro’s wife. Blakely. The Chief meets 
the Professor. The Chief knows why the Professor is a 
wise man. The double eyes, spectacles. The Chief with 
the spectacles. Muro’s wife meets the Chief’s wife. They 
confer about Cinda and Sutoto. The savage customs in 
marriage. The ceremonies. Stut tells the boys about 
Sutoto’s mission to procure his wedding outfit. The sur- 
prising news that Sutoto and Cinda were to be secretly 
married that night. The plot. Muro’s wife informed. 

XVI. Sutoto and Cinda’s Marriage; and the Sur- 
prise Page 193 

The Chief’s wife gets the news. The Chief brought into 
the conference. His will the only law on the matter of 
marriage. He consents to their plan. The two require- 
ments in the ceremony of marriage according to their 
rites. The gift of fruit, of fowl, and of game. The 
blindfolding of the bridegroom. The absolute silence 
when eating. Preparation for the banquet that night. 
Sutoto and Cinda arrange to be married that night while 
the people are at the banquet. Decide to conform strictly 
to the rites of the tribe. The boys learn of the stealthy 
plans. Witness the ceremony in Cinda’s home. The 
Chief arrests the bridal couple and takes them aboard the 
ship. The criminals before the Chief. The Chief up- 
braids Sutoto. The reconciliation. The presents brought 
over from Wonder Island. Grief of the boys because 
they had forgotten a present. The surprise of the na- 
tives at the beautiful silver forks. Spices. Coffee. 
Cream and sugar. Curiosity about the cows. The great 
98 


CHAPTEB 


CONTENTS 


surprise to Sutoto. He is made Chief of his tribe. Mon- 
uments. The presents. The great mirror, the present 
of the boys. TTie crowns. The final ceremony. The 
dance. Originally a religious ceremony. The encircling 
wreath. 

XVII. Hutoton; the Place of Death Page 207 

Preparations for further explorations. Consulting the 
charts. Determine to sail northward, on way to Wonder 
Island. Reasons from shape of the island why an island 
might be to the north. Geological formations. Up- 
heavals. Islands mere ridges. Sutoto to return to 
Wonder Island. The Chief agrees to go to Wonder Island. 
His family to accompany him. Proposed visit to Hutoton. 
Boarding the ship. The welcome of the convicts. Tak- 
ing the paralytic to the ship. Stores from the ships for 
the convict colony. The Pioneer sails to the north. Dis- 
covery of a new island. Taking observations from the 
sun. The calendar. Summer and winter. Taking the 
angle of the sun, and what it means. Triangulation. 
The nautical chart. Greenwich or Standard time. The 
island which they had left named Venture. The new 
island and its magnificent vegetation. John, with the 
boys and two boatloads, land. The exploring parties 
formed. The boys and Muro at the head of one party. 
Traces of savages. Appearances that cannibals were 
there. A shower of arrow^s their first surprise. The 
volley and the disappearance of the natives. Reappear- 
ance of the savages. Surrounded. Preparing for defense. 
The second attack. The fight. The natives apparently 
peparing to rush them. 

XVIII. Discovery of a New Island, and a Savage 

Tribe Page 222 

The effect of the second volley. The determination of the 
attacking party. The fire on all sides. The ammunition 
getting low. The relief party under John. Hearing the 
sounds of firing. The surprise of the natives. The sav- 
ages repulsed. Muro and the men follow the fleeing 
natives. Recalled by John. Aiding the wounded. Tak- 


CHAPTEE 


CONTENTS 


ing along a wounded Chief. The litter. The decoy. Re- 
turning to the ship. Observing the enemy from a tree- 
top. Following up the party. A rear guard. The run- 
ner reports the determination of the natives to follow. 
The signal shots to the ship. Reinforcements. The de- 
termination to explore the island and meet the natives. 
John with the boys and a strong party remain. The 
Pioneer sails for Wonder Island. Holding a coimcil. 

XIX. Fight with Natives and Retubn to Wondeb 

Island Page 231 

Arrangements for the Pioneer to return. Ammunition 
needed. The arrangement of the men for scouting and 
picketing. Leaving security harbor. A plant which de- 
vours insects. Venus’s fly-trap. How plants absorb 
food. Irritability. How the leaf digests the fly. Food 
absorbed by leaves as well as by roots. A cache of 
human skulls. Head hunters. The vele. A hoodoo. 
The rattle. The vele and the bamboo box. How it is 
worked to produce the charm. Evidences of extreme 
superstitions. Witch doctors. Peculiar noises. Doleful 
soimds. Speculating on the mysteries of the island. 


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ADVENTURES 
ON STRANGE ISLANDS 

CHAPTER I 

THE STEANGB OARS AND ROPES 

‘‘I AM awfully anxious to know where the charted 
islands can be that John spoke about/’ remarked 
George, as Harry was consulting the plans of the 
boat they were building. 

^‘They must be in this section of the southern seas, 
or his party wouldn’t have sailed in this direction,” 
answered Harry, after a pause. 

‘^Do you think he would be offended if we spoke to 
him about it ? ” 

‘^No;’’ answered Harry, after some reflection. 
‘‘He has spoken to me about it several times. But 
why do you ask ? ’ ’ 

“For the reason that I think it would be a grand 
thing to hunt them up. ’ ’ 

Harry laughed, and then slowly said: “That 
WQpld be a big thing to undertake. But what about 
going home?” 

“I hadn’t forgotten that. I meant that when we 
came back it would be proper for us to undertake.” 

15 


16 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


Well, haven T you had enough trouble during the 
past two years U’ And Harry laughed, just as 
though they hadnT gone through sufficient trials to 
last a life time. 

wouldn’t mind going through the same ex- 
periences, when I remember what we have learned 
and what all of us have accomplished,” responded 
George, as he looked through the window, reflec- 
tively, and watched the natives at work. 

It will be difficult to understand the force of the 
above conversation, unless the reader knows the 
situation in which the boys were placed at the time 
it took place, and the locality of the scene where the 
conversation was held. 

Over two years previously two boys, George May- 
field and Harry Crandall, were members of a school 
training ship which left the Harbor of New York, 
for a cruise in southern waters, the object being to 
instruct the crew of seventy boys in the art of sea- 
manship, as well as to give them a foundation knowl- 
edge in the arts and sciences. 

On board they became intimate with a gray-haired 
Professor, who became very ill. They were particu- 
larly attracted to him, and waited upon him, until 
they reached the Pacific Ocean, where, for some rea- 
son the ship met a catastrophe, and the crew w^ere 
compelled to take to open boats. 

The two boys, with several companions, and the 
Professor, were together in one of the life boats, 
and after leaving the sinking ship a terrific gale. 


THE STEANGE OAES AND HOPES 17 


one of the great monsoons, separated them from the 
companion boats, and for six days they were driven 
about in the vast ocean, absolutely helpless. During 
this time all their young companions were washed 
overboard, and they were driven to the point of de- 
spair, when they were cast ashore on an island. 

They were thus placed on an unknown land, with 
nothing but their scanty clothing, and devoid even 
of a knife. There is no indication that the land was 
inhabited, and for the first three months, while re- 
cuperating, they had no opportunity to go far from 
the spot where they landed. 

After the Professor had regained his health, they 
began to make a few necessary things, and hunt for 
the food which was necessary to preserve life. As 
they grew bolder, however, they fashioned crude im- 
plements, like bows and arrows, and primitive arti- 
cles of utility. 

They made a few trips into the interior, and then 
saw the first indications which pointed to the pres- 
ence of inhabitants. From some of the traces it was 
evident that the people must be savages, and then 
they saw the necessity of preparing themselves to 
meet hostile neighbors. 

Then began the most remarkable series of ad- 
ventures on the part of the boys, under the instruc- 
tion of the Professor, to provide not only the neces- 
saries of life, but many of the luxuries. While en- 
gaged in the different enterprises they undertook 
numerous excursions, all of which confirmed them 
in the first intimations that they had landed on an 


18 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


island, and that it contained one or more savage 
tribes. 

To recount all that the boys did, even in the brief- 
est space, would be impossible in this book, and it is 
not necessary, in order to relate the happenings 
from this time on; but some things are necessary, 
because we shall have to deal with incidents which 
took place during their adventures, and this volume 
also brings into the scene several characters, in ad- 
dition to the three which have been named, as the 
principal participants. 

The incidents referred to were called by the boys 
‘‘the mysteries.’’ When they landed on the island 
they erected a flag pole, and improvised a flag which 
was kept at half mast, and mounted on a high point, 
so that it would attract passing ships, if their island 
chanced to be in the path of vessels. During one of 
their excursions the flag pole and staff disappeared. 

For the purpose of making one of the trips by 
water a boat was built, and they sailed it up a large 
stream, only to find that within ten miles of their 
home was an immense cataract, or falls, around 
which they could not porter the vessel. It was left 
below the falls in a secure position, and ten days 
later, when they went for it, were surprised at its 
disappearance. 

Later on it was found miles away, but the little 
closets which they had built in to hold their food and 
clothing, had disappeared, and they were still more 
startled to find a pair of oars, which they could not 
have made, attached to the boat. 


THE STRANGE OARS AND ROPES 19 


In repairing the boat a note was discovered, writ- 
ten by some one who could not have been a member 
of their ill-fated vessel. This added to their per- 
plexities, for it indicated that white people had been 
on the island, as well as savages. 

Then they found strange ropes, evidently fash- 
ioned by a crude hand; a skull of a well-developed 
man was picked up on the shore not far from their 
home; part of the wreckage of a vessel was dis- 
covered ; a herd of yaks was captured and a myste- 
rious brand deciphered on one of them. 

But in their wanderings they found the entrance 
to a cavern, and this was explored, resulting in find- 
ing that it was formerly a pirates’ lair, and they 
were astounded at finding immense wealth in its 
hidden recesses. 

They industriously searched the island, and found 
numerous ores which were dug out and smelted and 
from which they were able to build many things that 
added to their comfort; and finally, firearms were 
constructed, and powder made. 

They spent much of the time in chemical experi- 
ments, in hunting for and gathering the different 
vegetables, and fibres, and from the latter learned 
how to weave cloth, to make felt, and to turn skins 
into leather from the animals which they hunted. 

Their adventures were not wholly devoid of the 
amusing things of life. In one of the expeditions 
they captured a young Orang-outang. This was 
carefully taught to do many things, and it became not 
only a valuable assistant, and a wonderful scout in 


20 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


tlieir wanderings, bnt it afforded them immense 
amusement, which was appreciated by the boys. 

And now, having been provided with suitable 
weapons, they determined to go on voyages of dis- 
covery, being prompted in this course, because they 
found in the wreckage along one of the rivers, and 
far in the interior, a life boat which was a companion 
to their own which had been lost when they were 
stranded in the great tempest. 

It was evident to them that some of their com- 
panions were on the island, and probably, captives. 
This made the quest a most exciting one, so every 
energy was bent toward the end of helping the un- 
fortunates. 

On the initial expedition, after the completion of 
the first weapons, they came into contact with several 
tribes of savages, one of whom was captured, after 
being wounded. It developed that he was a chief of 
one of the tribes which at that time were at war with 
each other. 

Returning from this trip they discovered at their 
home a distinguished looking white man in rags, 
totally devoid of intellect, and unable to speak. It 
was evident that he had met with some accident, but 
he was entirely harmless, and obediently took up 
and performed every sort of manual labor, — ^in fact, 
was an expert in any sort of mechanical operation 
required of him. 

In hunting, or in scouting, he was a perfect speci- 
man of the hunter, or the soldier. It seemed to be 
an instinct with him to render every kind of service 


THE STRANGE OARS AND ROPES 21 


that might be needed, with the gun, or the tools which 
were all about him. In the absence of a better name 
they christened him John. 

On the second trip into the unknown portions of 
the island they met three of the savage tribes, with 
whom they had several battles, and one of the na- 
tives was wounded and captured. While wandering 
through the forests, in their efforts to return to their 
home, they ran into a savage village, where they were 
successful in rescuing two boys who had been ship- 
mates on the Investigator which went down months 
before. 

While this was a source of joy it was clouded by 
the information that they were not the ones who came 
to the island in the life boat that the boys had found 
in the river. This was evidence that others must 
still be in the island, and probably held as captives. 

Some months after the silent John came to them, 
his reason and the ability to speak returned to him, 
and he told a wonderful tale of his wanderings, and 
that which impressed the boys most was the informa- 
tion that he had shipped in a vessel which was de- 
signed to search out the treasures hidden in the 
islands of the South seas. 

From hints which he dropped from time to time, 
the islands containing the treasure were charted, 
and later on, one of the caves so charted was found 
on the island they now occupied, although they also 
found several which were not alluded to and could 
not be recognized by the description, according to 
the story told by John. 


22 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


John was an educated man, an archaeologist, and, , 
next to the Professor, had the most varied knowledge 
of any one the boys ever met, and it can be under- 
stood, that their association with men of that class 
made them remarkably active in seeking out and un- i 
derstanding the wonderful things that nature pre- i 
sents in every field of human activity. 

In order to be as brief as possible with this part of 
the story, it is necessary to add that the rescue of 
the two boys, and the restoration of John’s faculties, 
made a strong party, and new weapons were made, i 
and the real expeditions through the island begun. 

During the first extended trip, the Professor was 
captured. Out of this misadventure grew some of ^ 
the most remarkable series of events, but finally, they ' 
were successful in rescuing four more of their former ; 
companions, and two of John’s shipwrecked com- j 
panions. i 

The capture of the Chief, formerly alluded to, and j 
the subsequent rescue of a chief who was about to be | 
offered up as a sacrifice, served as a means to bring \ 
two of the tribes to the rescue of those in the expe- ] 
dition, and the Professor, by his wisdom, was able j 
to enlist the services of the tribe which had captured ; 
him. j 

The events which lead directly up to the beginning 
of this volume were brought about by the enmity of 
two of the most bitter and vindictive tribes, which 
compelled the Professor and the boys to form an 
expedition against those hostiles, in which four other 
tribes assisted. 


THE STRANGE OARS AND ROPES 23 


They captured the Chief, and rescued two of their 
former companions, and then built a town called 
Unity, where the advantages of civilization were 
taught the natives, and to which place many of the 
families of the natives emigrated. 

All the chiefs formed an alliance of peace, and the 
Professor was made the chief magistrate. After 
peace and order had been restored, the boys again 
began to long for home. Prior to this they had de- 
termined to build a ship large enough to take them to 
the nearest shipping point, and they were now fever- 
ishly engaged in the work with the aid of the natives, 
who were eager to learn how the white men built the 
wonderful things which they saw all about them. 

It will, therefore, be understood, that the remarks 
of George, at the opening of this chapter, had’ refer- 
ence to the fact that the most important of the 
islands, or the ones having the most of the treasures 
could not be the one on which they resided, but per- 
tained to some other localities. 

^^Well, if there is anything I am interested in, it 
is to know why the wonderful buildings we found at 
the Iliyas ’ village were put up at that place, and what 
caused all trace of them to be lost,’’ said Harry, after 
George had expressed his last opinion. 

‘‘Do you remember what John said, after we came 
out of the cave below the village ? ’ ’ 

“No; what was it?” 

“He said the copper in the cave might explain it.” 

After the capture of the last tribe, J ohn demanded 
that the Chief inform them of the location of the 


24 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


Hoodoo, or Medicine Men of the tribe, and he reluc- 
tantly consented, but the Chief warned them, that to 
attempt to enter the cave would mean Death. 

John knew that the Chief and the people believed 
the death tales told by the Medicine Men, as it was 
tales of this kind which enabled them to maintain 
such a hold on the people. In order to destroy the 
power of those people, who really had been the cause 
of much of their troubles, John announced that he 
would take the Chief and his followers to the cave, 
and that he would then go into the cave alone, and 
come out again, to prove that the Medicine Men had 
lied to him. 

J ohn entered the cave, and single-handed captured 
the Krishnos, as they were called, and brought them 
out, thus verifying his statement that those men had 
deceived the people. Soon thereafter John and the 
boys entered the cave, which, from the description he 
had, contained an immense amount of treasure, but 
they were unable to discover any trace of it if it 
existed. 

By accident the calcareous deposit was broken off 
at one part in their search, and below was found a 
dark material, which, after examination, was found 
to be copper. It was not in its native state, but was 
a product produced by smelting the ore, and they un- 
covered an immense quantity of it, sufficient to show 
that the portion of the cave in which it was found 
was really a storehouse. 

Not more than a mile away was the Native village, 
where they held the tribe captive. The village was 


THE STRANGE OARS AND ROPES 25 


absolutely unlike anything else in the form of habita- 
tions found in the island. Three of the buildings 
were large structures, built in three of the well-known 
types of architecture, and the other parts of the vil- 
lage were laid off regularly. 

Surrounding the village was a strong embankment, 
as though originally used as a fortification, and the 
village itself was located on the side of a hill, be- 
tokening sanitary considerations. 

‘‘But I do not see,’^ observed George, “what the 
copper in the cave had to do with the townT’ 

“Nor do I,’’ responded Harry. “Suppose we see 
John at the first opportunity. There are other 
things besides the copper I would like to know. John 
has asked every one that he has come into contact 
with about the different wrecks that have come 
ashore within the past two years, and no one seems 
to have any idea that more than two of the Investi- 
gator's boats came ashore.’’ 

“Well, if they did it isn’t at all likely that they 
could come to the southern shore, when the wrecked 
vessel was to the north of the island. ’ ’ 

“It is just for that reason,” responded George, 
“that I believe we shall find other islands in the 
vicinity, and who knows but some of the boats 
reached those islands?” 

“I am with you,” said Harry. “Shall we talk to 
John about it?” 

‘ ‘ By all means. But stop ! Why not have a talk 
with the Professor first?” 

“Good idea. We owe everything to him.” 


CHAPTER II 


A MYSTEKIOUS MESSAGE 

The town of Unity was located about ten miles 
from the sea, on a little stream, which had a water- 
fall, from which they derived the power for turning 
the machinery which had been put up. This con- 
sisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, 
as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for 
a town. 

All these enterprises were now being operated by 
the natives. The leading commercial genius of the 
town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the 
vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, 
and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon 
which sent the schoolship Investigator to the bottom. 

It was Blakely ^s idea that the work of the natives 
could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, 
and the different fibres which naturally grew all over 
the island, and in order to take advantage of the 
crops which could be grown there it would be neces- 
sary to open communication with the outside world. 

To do this meant that they must build a ship, and 
thus reach civilization, and vessels could then bring 
such things to the islands as the natives could use, 
and take away the produce that the natives could 
turn out. 


26 


A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE 


27 


Such a plan was one which was heartily seconded 
by all the boys, who, although they had been engaged 
in the most wonderful experiences, were homesick, 
and longed to see their parents in the States, and 
thus relieve them of their anxiety, after an absence 
of more than two years. 

It was with a will that all took a hand in the work, 
and the ship was nearing completion. They had no 
facilities for making a large engine, so the vessel was 
a sailer, with a small propeller, and the largest size 
engine they could turn out was to be used as an 
auxiliary. 

The next evening while the Professor, J ohn and the 
boys were together, Harry brought up the subject of 
the talk of the previous evening. 

^‘George and I have been talking about making a 
voyage of discovery.’’ 

The Professor looked at Harry with that genial 
smile which the boys had learned to love. Without 
answering for the moment, the old man turned to 
John, as the latter’s face lit up. 

thought you boys were homesick?” he said. 

^‘Well, yes,” answered George. ‘^But only for a 
little while. ’ ’ 

‘‘Only homesick for a little while!” and the Pro- 
fessor’s hearty laugh followed. 

“I mean we are homesick, — that is, we can be 
cured of it in a little while.” 

Without relaxing that broa.d smile, the Professor 
continued : “I suppose you want to be cured before 
you go on the voyage of discovery! Is that it!” 

99 


28 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


‘‘Yes/’ 

^‘But what do you expect to discover U’ asked 
John, gravely. 

‘‘Just what you suggested on one occasion,^’ said 
Harry. 

“We want to know where the treasures are on the 
islands,’^ remarked George. 

“Then, there is another thing, ventured Harry. 
“I don’t think all the boats of our ship were lost, and 
it is likely that they found refuge on some other 
island. ’ ’ 

“But how do you know there are other islands 
near here?” asked the Professor, 

“Well, I don’t know, only from what John has 
said.” 

John looked at Harry for a moment quizzically, 
and then said : ‘ ‘ When did I say so I ” he asked with 
a smile. 

“When you told about the charts of the treasure 
caves. ’ ’ 

“But we have found them, haven’t we?” 

“Yes; but not all of them.” 

‘ ‘ That is true ; and your argument is correct. Un- 
questionably, there are other islands, probably not 
in the immediate vicinity, but near enough that they 
could have caught some of the boats. I quite agree 
with you that we ought to make the attempt. The 
Professor and I have just been talking of taking up 
the matter in order to relieve any who might have 
been so unfortunate as to be cast away.” 

“I am surprised,” said the Professor, “that you 


A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE 


29 


are not through with treasure hunting, and want 
some more of it.’’ 

‘^But you know, Professor, that some of the most 
interesting times we had were during the investiga- 
tions we made at the big cave at the Cataract on 
Wonder Island!” 

‘ ‘ Quite true ; but think of the immense riches you 
now have. In the vault beneath the floor of the main 
shop you have the combined treasure of the two 
caves,” continued the Professor. 

^^Yes; and that shall be taken back by you to your 
homes in the States, and you will want to enjoy it,” 
and John said this with a most sincere air, as he 
looked at the boys. 

‘‘That would be nice,” said Harry reflectively. 
“But if we are there the only thing we can do is to 
spend it, and there is no particular fun in doing 
that.” 

“What? No fun in spending the money?” ex- 
claimed the Professor. 

“Why, we haven’t spent a cent since we have been 
here, and we have enjoyed every hour of the time, 
except — except — ” and George hung his head for a 
moment. 

“I know,” said the dear old Professor; “I know 
what you mean. Home still has a warm place in 
your heart. That is right. You must see your 
home, and then, — ” 

“Then we want to come back,” broke in Harry. 

“It makes me happy to see that the lessons of the 
past while we have been together has impressed on 


30 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


your minds one thing ; that it is not riches which give 
happiness. ’ ’ 

know that,’^ said Harry. ‘‘When I go out and 
see these poor people here, and I meet smiles on 
every face, and a welcome everywhere, the thought 
that we have tried to make them feel and know that 
wars were wrong, and that true happiness consists in 
trying to make others happy, it gives me more 
pleasure than all the gold which we took from the 
caves of the Buccaneers. ^ ’ 

“Yes, and there is another thing, that I have been 
thinking about, said George. “I really don^t think 
the people here are so bad, and never have thought 
so.^^ 

“Well, they have been doing some pretty bad 
things,’^ remarked John. “I would like to know 
what makes you think as you do.’’ 

“I mean, that if it wasn’t for certain classes, like 
the Krishnos, say, the people would not be trying to 
sacrifice each other. Those fellows are the ones who 
lie to the people, just as the fellows at the last cave 
told the people and the Chiefs that if they went into 
the cave the Great Spirit would destroy them.” 

John and the Professor both laughed, while the 
boys looked on. There did not seem to be anything 
amusing about that, and they wondered why they 
should laugh at George’s remark. 

“Did it ever occur to you how like that is to the 
white man’s way of doing things!” asked John. 

‘ ‘ I never thought of that ! ’ ’ said Harry. 

“Do the white people act that way, too!” inquired 


A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE 


31 


George. never knew that we had people who 
tried to deceive others so they could give them up as 
a sacrifice 

‘‘What do you think the Krishnos deceive the 
people forU’ asked the Professor. 

“So as to give them the power,* ’ answered George. 
“Quite true. But what is the object of that 
power r’ 

“So they can ruleP’ 

“Yes; but what gives them the power to ruleP^ 
“Oh, I see now! They get paid for it! And 
that is why the Krishnos have all the best things, and 
are better cared for than even the chiefs areP^ 

“You have given the right answer. The Krishnos 
don’t want to sacrifice human life because they love 
to do it, but because in the doing of it they inspire 
fear, and through fear they can get what they want. ’ ’ 
“But, Professor, you haven’t yet told us how that 
is like the white people do it. ’ ’ 

“In exactly the same way. The Krishnos own the 
big gun factories, and they tell the chiefs that the 
people across the river, or on the other side of the 
mountain are going to rise up against them, and they 
must arm the people and attack them. You see the< 
white man’s Krishnos have a great cave, called a gun 
factory, and while he does not want to offer up any 
sacrifices for the love of it, he does so because it is 
his business to make guns, and ammunition, and 
shells which explode with terrific force, and destroy 
hundreds at every shot.” 

“Well, after all, we are not much better than the 


32 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


savages here, are weV’ said Harry, as he looked | 
around, with a sad expression. | 

‘‘We have advanced a little beyond them,’^ inter- v, 
pointed John. “We have tried to systematize the i 
killing. The savage goes at it without regard. But I 
the white man has set rules to conduct the slaughter. « 
HL course, the rules do not say that they shall not kill ^ 
but it does point out the impolite ways of killing.'^ • 
The Professor smiled at this homely way of putting 
it, but the boys looked doubtfully at John^s expo- 
sition, and then George ventured to remark: “I 
can see the force of it, and it is my opinion that the 
savage way is, after all, the most reasonable.’’ 

“Tf it is not the most reasonable,” answered the 
Professor, “it is certainly the most logical. But we 
are getting away from our subject. I understand 
from what John says that within the next week we ; 
shall be able to launch the vessel I ” 

“Yes,” answered Harry. “Everything is now so 
far ahead that in two weeks more w^e can be ready 
to sail. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ That is well. I hear there is considerable rivalry 
among the men to go with you ? ” 

“But aren’t you going with us?” asked George in 
a voice of alarm. 

“No; my place is here. I have no desire to go ' 
back. I have induced J ohn, much against his will, I 
know, to go with you, but I cannot leave my people 
here. I will welcome you only the more gladly when . 
you return.” 

Harry was almost in tears, as he said : ‘ ‘But we • ; 


A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE 


33 


wanted yon to go back with ns so we conld take yon to 
onr homes and let onr people see yon. They wonld 
be so happy to see yon and to hear yon talk. ’ ^ 

‘‘Thank yon so mnch for the kind invitation. 
Sometime in the fntnre, when everything is properly 
settled here, and I can see my way clear, I will con- 
sider it an honor to visit yonr homes, and enjoy the 
friendship of yonr dear ones; bnt not now.’^ 

The door opened qnietly, and Angel stepped in, 
Angel being the Orang-ontang to which we have al- 
Inded. He was now nearly as tall as George. He 
gravely shambled over to the Professor, and placed 
an envelope in his hand. 

Angel was the most wonderfnl character in that 
commnnity. He was the pet and the playmate of 
all the children. No one dared to harm him or of- 
fer an insnlt. Snch a thing wonld have cansed an 
insnrrection in that town. 

While he conld not speak, he conld nnderstand 
practically everything that was told him. Daily he 
performed many extraordinary tasks, thanks to the 
training and care that George had bestowed npon 
him from the day he had become a captive. 

The Professor opened the envelope, and adjnsted 
his glasses. As he read his eyes opened wider and 
wider, while John and the boys drew closer. While 
reading one of the sheets the Professor was slowly 
nnfolding a scrap of dark colored material, smaller 
than the sheet he was reading. 

“What is itP’ asked Harry. 

“The letter is from Blakely, he said as he passed 


34 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


the papers to John. ‘‘And what do you think it is 
about ? ’ ^ 

All eagerly peered at the letter and then at the 
brown missive, whatever it was. 

“Read it aloud,’’ said the Professor. 

John handed it to George, and this is Blakely’s let- 
ter : 

“South Mountain, 

_ “Below Ulya. 

“My Dear Professor: 

“I felt sure that my view as to the character of 
the mountain range below the town was correct. 
Copper outcroppings were found as far south as the 
range can he seen, and there is also silver in abun- 
dance. This will surely be a profitable field for the 
natives. Yesterday, while prospecting on the south- 
eastern side of the main ridge, I was surprised to 
find a part of a metal pot, evidently of cast iron. 
Quite a number of articles, of no particular value 
were lying near, but within the fragment of the pot, 
and protected by a shale of rock, was the enclosed 
scrap, which I thought might interest you, as you 
have a leaning in the direction of finding out hidden 
and abstruse things. Probably, you can decipher 
what it says. All the men are well, and are feeling 
jolly. We may be ready to return in a week. I 
hope the old ship is coming along all right. 

“Hurriedly, as ever, 
“Blakely.’^ 

“That is satisfactory. Blakely is the right man 
for his job,” remarked John. 


A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE 35 

‘‘Now, let us see what the scrap has to say,^’ said 
the Professor. 

John held the scrap up to the light, and all peered 
at it. “I think there are cross lines on it, although 
I am not quite sure, ’ ’ he said, as he again held it up 
so the light could flash through it. 

“What difference would that make whether it had 
or it hadn’t cross lines?” asked Harry. 

‘ ‘ Simply this : I wanted to satisfy myself whether 
or not it was taken from a ship ’s pad, which is gen- 
erally ruled both ways.” 

“What is the object of having paper ruled both 
ways?” 

“It is a convenient way of making calculations 
where measurements are necessary, as is the case 
in figuring out and placing the different celestial 
marks which guide the sailors. I think this is a 
marine pad. Now, let us see what it contains, be- 
fore we go further.” 

“See the name signed at the bottom,” cried out 
George. “W-a-l-t. That must be a ‘t’. But the 
rest is blurred.” 

“I wonder if that isn’t Walter?” said Harry. 

“Who is Walter?” asked John. 

“Walter? Why he is the man who signed the 
note we found on the Investigator's life boat No. 
3 and from whom we have never heard.” 

“I remember now,” said John, reflectively. He 
mentioned Wright who was one of my companions. 
But I did not know Walter, — ^but what is this?” 
All craned forward now. “Here is a line; it looks 


36 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


like a large Y, pointing to the south ; — that is if the 
upper part of the paper is the north. ’ ’ 

‘‘There is some sort of tracing on it/^ said George. 

“Your eyesight is good, George, see if you can see 
any figures on the sheet that will explain the V, and 
the reason for the name below. 

“There is the slightest sign of a figure, or a word 
just below the point of the V. It looks like ‘30\ 
This seems to be an arrow, which points to the right 
diagonally.’’ 

“Now you boys have something to occupy your 
minds. You have been interested in the Walter note 
for a year; now is the time to do some investigat- 
ing.” 

“I have an idea,” said Harry, jumping up. 
“Where can we find the original Walter’s note? 
We can compare the signature, and that will teU 
whether it is Walter or not.” 

The Professor smiled as he noticed the eagerness 
of the boys. They rushed out of the room and went 
over to the shop to reclaim the note that had given 
them so much concern fourteen months before. 

When they had gone John said: “I presume you 
have already guessed what the note contains ? ’ ’ 

“Unquestionably it has reference to the location of 
the main ledge of copper or other ore which is meas- 
ured from some point in that vicinity, and which may 
be determined later on by noting the place where the 
missive was found, or from some natural land- 
mark.” 

“That is my view, but I felt it would be better for 


A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE 


37 


the boys to dig it out for themselves/’ replied John. 

The wonderful nature of the instruction which the 
boys had obtained during their stay on the island, 
was characterized by this little incident. Everything 
learned by one ’s own exertions is not only more val- 
uable because of that fact, but the facts thus gleaned 
will leave a stronger impress upon the mind. 

The boys thus learned by doing things themselves, 
that they became strong and self reliant, and it made 
them happy to think that they were able to pick up 
the threads, however tangled, and weave them into 
a harmonious whole. It is the secret of doing things 
well. 


CHAPTER III 


THE AEKOW ON THE SHEET 

When the boys reached their rooms they set to 
work to decipher the colored paper. It was about 
four by six inches in size, and had been folded twice, 
as the creases plainly showed. Assuring themselves 
that it was paper which had been crossruled, as sug- 
gested by J ohn, they tried to decipher the straggling 
letters and form them into some coherent form. 

The paper had the following appearance when they 
received it: 



The words, or parts of words ‘'dire,'^ in the first 
line, and ‘ ^ 30 gues ’ ’ in the second line, together with 

38 


THE AEEOW ON THE SHEET 


39 


the letters ‘‘Walt” are the only absolutely clear 
things to be noticed. 

“The writing is right across the V-shaped marks, 
and the arrow is plain enough. It may be though, 
that the arrow has nothing to do with the V-shaped 
mark.” And George held the paper away from his 
eyes to get the proper effect at a distance. 

“I wonder how close the mountain is to the sea?” 
ventured Harry. 

“I don’t see what difference that would make,” 
replied George. “That 30 must mean some meas- 
urement. It is either feet, or miles, or yards, or, — ” 

“Why can’t you see that ‘gues’ is a part of the 
word ‘leagues.’ ” 

Harry jumped up as though shot. “Well, that 
was stupid of us, sure enough.” 

“With that key before us, we can make some head- 
way. I believe the V-shape is the lower end of the 
mountain, probably a headland, and the arrow points 
to a place 30 leagues to the, — see here, in the last line 
is a W. and there is a blur before it and after it. 
That may be SWE, EWS, SWW, SWS, and,—” 

“Don’t go so fast,” shrieked Harry. “What do 
you suppose the capital I stands for at the beginning 
of the third line?” 

“I — I — , why, — Island, of course,” said George, 
with an air of superiority. ‘ ‘ But it cannot be west. ’ ’ 

“Well, the arrow points southeast.” 

“How do you know?” asked George, dubiously. 

“Wliy, that word at the extreme top must be 
“north,” and if so then the arrow is pointing south. 


40 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 




and the belongs to something in that direc- 

tion. ^ ’ 

There, in the second line is a word that looks 
like ‘ land. ^ Can it be a part of the word ^ Island ’ ? 

^^It doesnT seem so, as there is too much space 
before the letters. It seems to me though, that it 
reads Gand 30 leagues’ but what does ‘se’ mean?” ' 
The boys were up late that night, and they went 
to bed with the missive still unsolved. Before re- , 
tiring Harry said: ‘‘Let us wait until daylight. 
The sun may help us out.” 

When they awoke the first thing that occurred to 
George was the original Walter letter, so that the ] 
writing could be compared. It was found, and | 
George came in with an exultant bound. J 

“I am sure now that it was Walter. Here it is.” ; 
The original letter was as follows : j 

■ ■■ ■ 


•^o cLihejtOC t£jL 

^ iJtijL . -COul. 

CUHJL 

cxA~ caToa^ uAttz 

OXAAj <jO<.AAr^ 

ol^ ^ 

yd.£jCX^ 9 

Ux^CC urLjt/>tx^ cA 


lUMjLa:^^ 


moM 


THE ARKOW ON THE SHEET 


41 


“Compare the two and you will see they look 
alike, ’ ’ said George. 

“What shall we tell the Professor T’ asked Harry. 

“Well hut I am not yet through with the paper. 
Suppose we moisten it, and that may bring out some- 
thing we didnT see before.^’ 

This was done, but it made the entire document 
worse than before. 

^ ‘ Too bad we have spoiled it, remarked Harry, but 
I think we are safe in telling the Professor and John 
what we have found out.^’ 

For the time being, however, the boys had other 
urgent work to do. The day for launching had been 
set, and every working hour was valuable, so they 
were over at the ship yard early, and the boys did 
not see either John or the Professor during the 
day. 

The vessel as designed by Harry, and supervised 
by John, was ninety feet long, and had a beam of 
eighteen feet, with a very deep keel, and high bul- 
warks. It was constructed of a species of oak, found 
in abundance in the forest west of the town, and was 
cut up into boards, and dried in specially-prepared 
kilns which were put up for the purpose. 

While lumber dried in this way is not the best for 
ordinary uses, it will serve for shipping purposes, 
because there is always more or less moisture present 
in the hull of the vessel, and the object was to enable 
them to get the material in the speediest way. 

The saw mill was one of their first experiments in 
building machinery, and it was in constant service 


42 ADVENTUKES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


from the day it was first erected, getting out lum- 
ber for building purposes. 

The engine was designed only for auxiliary pur- 
poses, and the boiler was intended to use coal, of 
which they found an ample supply in the northern 
portion of the island, as explained in a previous 
book. 

When the boys returned to their rooms late that 
afternoon, the first thing that interested them was 
the message. When it was brought in it was dry, 
and a slight change was noticed in its appearance. 
Now, what appeared to be the first word of the mes- 
sage, was discernible, the word ‘‘Take,^^ and the 
word ‘^Head^’ could be made out before and as a part 
of ‘Tand,’’ in the second line. 

‘‘We have it/’ cried Harry, as he jumped up. 
“Now let them know about it.” 

They were across the open space, without any 
ceremony, and without taking trouble to announce 
themselves, were in the Professor’s room. 

“We have it, — ^we have made it out,” was the an- 
nouncement, as Harry held up the message. 

“Does it tell you where the Copper mine is lo- 
cated f ’ ’ asked the Professor. 

“Copper mine?” exclaimed George. “What has 
a copper mine to do with it I” 

“John and I concluded, from certain markings on 
the paper, that it contained a diagram of the mine?” 

“Well, you were mistaken,” said Harry with a 
chuckle. “It is something about an island, thirty 
leagues to the southeast, somewhere.” 


THE ARKOW ON THE SHEET 43 

‘Hs that soV’ exclaimed the Professor in surprise. 
‘‘Get John. He will be surprised.^’ 

John came hurriedly at the announcement, and 
the contents of the missive pointed out. “This is 
certainly good news, ’ ’ he said. ‘ ‘ That was fine work 
on your part.^’ 

“You see the arrow, and the part of the word 
‘leagues.^ That couldnT mean feet or yards, or 
miles.’’ 

“Quite evident,” said John, as he mused for a 
while. “This confirms, in a measure, the informa- 
tion that we have as to the proximity of these islands, 
but the charts show them farther away. ’ ’ 

“Undoubtedly, if Walter knew what he was talk- 
ing about, we have an interesting problem to deci- 
pher, and the determination to make the voyage is a 
wise and timely one,” interposed the Professor. 

“Now for the ship,” said Harry. “Every day is 
a hundred, in my mind.” 

As may be imagined, the boys now worked with 
feverish haste. Other islands here, and waiting for 
them ! Sometimes they were almost tempted to give 
up the trip home, but the Professor would not hear 
of it. 

“Do not change your plans, if you have any good 
conclusions when you start out. Don’t oscillate from 
one thing to another. Always make up your minds 
and then take a wise, persistent course. It is that 
which always serves you best.” 

“No; we will go home first, and then for the is- 
lands,” said Harry, who felt relieved that the im- 
100 


44 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


petuous nature of George could be brought to their 
way of thinking, although George was by far the 
most homesick of the entire lot. 

All the boys were on hand when the vessel was 
launched. It rode the water beautifully, and the 
natives were the most enthusiastic helpers. They 
felt proud of their work. Uraso and Muro, the two 
chiefs, who were the most prominent men in the com- 
munity, and particularly Sutoto, the intelligent Be- 
ree, and Stut, the brother-in-law of Muro, were on 
hand. 

It was a great feast day for the people. Tears 
actually flowed from the Professor ^s eyes, as he saw 
the women and children crowd about him. He was 
almost a God to them. They were accustomed to re- 
ceive visits from him in his weekly rounds, and how 
at such times he loved to tell them how to make and 
arrange things about the house, which contributed 
to their comfort. 

Everybody was at work; all were happy, and no 
one appreciated this more than the women, who had 
been lifted out of the bonds of slavery and elevated 
through the wise administration of the Professor. 

Angel, too, was in evidence. He was the flrst to 
climb the mast, as the ship floated in the stream. 

‘H wonder whether Angel remembers the first trip 
he took with us on boat No. asked Harry. 

Angel bestowed a knowing look on Harry. ‘H 
believe he knows what you said,’’ remarked George. 

In another week the rigging had been put up, and 
the boiler and engine were installed before the 


THE ARROW ON THE SHEET 


45 


launching, so that the necessary work required to 
enable the ship to sail, was the provisioning. John 
suggested that what was of far more importance 
would be the work of training a crew to handle the 
ship, so they turned their minds toward the solution 
of this question. 

The selection of a crew was a most difficult task, 
because all the men were willing to volunteer. It 
was decided, however, that only the unmarried men 
should be taken, and this at once eliminated many 
who might otherwise have been selected. 

For three days the ship was taken out to sea, under 
sail only, and John found no trouble in maneuvering 
the vessel with his new crew. John was a sailor, and 
had once been owner of a vessel, so that they were in 
competent hands. 

But the final day came, when they must go. It 
was a most trying time for the poor boys. Almost 
at the last moment, Harry and George walked back 
to the Professor’s room, and broke out into tears. 

^‘Everybody is leaving you,” said Harry, ‘‘and I 
cannot bear to go and leave you in this way. ’ ’ 

All the rescued boys were on board, as well as 
Blakely, since the Professor had insisted that the 
latter should go, for business reasons, so that the 
Professor was left alone, the only white man on Won- 
der Island, when the ship sailed down the river. 

True, there was no reason to fear for his safety. 
The natives loved him too devotedly, but the boys 
felt that he must often be lonely in his new surround- 
ings, with no one but the natives about him. They 


46 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


little knew that the solace and comfort of the grand 
old man was the knowledge that he had helped his 
fellow man, though the color of the skin was darker 
than his own. 

Their voyage was accompanied by favoring winds 
and perfect weather. Valparaiso, Chile, was the 
first port at which they landed, and as a trip around 
the Horn, or even through the Straits of Magellan, 
and up along the Atlantic coast, would mean several 
months, with their own vessel, they shipped in one of 
the line steamers, and within seven weeks they saw 
Sandy Hook lightship, and then the forts which lined 
the opposite shore at the Narrows. 

Telegrams to their parents created paroxysms of 
joy in many homes which had been robbed when the 
Investigator went down. There were no happier 
homes than the ones Harry and George were wel- 
comed to. 

The papers told the stories of the boys in pages 
and pages of descriptions, and they showed the 
photos, and told what the boys had done in their tem- 
porary home. The hero of all this wonderful home- 
coming was Angel. 

The people, the houses, the wonderful automobiles 
which he saw on every hand, at first alarmed him, 
but when he saw that George did not seem a bit 
afraid, he reconciled himself to the situation. 

His first automobile ride was a revelation to him. 
He held on tightly to George, at first, but soon the 
sensation became one of joy, and he could not get 


THE ARKOW ON THE SHEET 


47 


enough of it. The boys were certainly feted, but 
when they told their parents that they must go back, 
the proposition met with strong opposition. 

The parents forgot that the boys were now over 
two years older than when they went away, and it 
seemed singular that the surroundings did not seem 
the same to them as before the happy boyhood days 
before they left home. 

For business reasons the parents knew that it 
would be prudent to permit them to return and they 
were influenced by the remarkable change they saw 
in the manners and actions of the boys. They saw 
the youths were strong and self reliant, ever ready 
to act and to carry out their resolutions. These boys 
had been transformed into men. 

They spent many days going over old scenes and 
visiting friends. They enjoyed to the utmost the 
reunion with their families, but they could not cease 
talking about the Professor. They now realized in 
full what he had been to them, and what his example 
and teaching meant to them. There was really a 
feeling amounting almost to jealousy on the part of 
the people at home against the Professor, but it was 
not one of bitterness. 

One who could exert such a healthy influence on 
the lives of the young, as he possessed, was worthy 
of the adulation that the boys bestowed. But John 
was not forgotten in these periods of happiness. 

They were never happy when telling the tales of 
their adventures except when John was present, and 
the latter was the most sought-for individual, be- 


48 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


cause when lie once began to tell some of bis vivid 
tales the people would not let him stop. 

Finally the time for departure came. A merry 
party gathered upon the dock when the explorers 
were about to depart. They would write at least 
once a month, as Blakely had assured them that he 
would arrange to have a steamer run a round trip 
each four weeks, to take care of the commodities 
which would be made up by the natives. 

The steamship Panama slowly moved out into the 
bay, and the boys remembered the memorable event 
which took place at that same dock thirty months 
before. Then they left with a sort of half joy in 
their hearts, and now they were going away to finish 
up the great adventures which they had started when 
they reached the island of Wonder. 

All hearts were anxious as the ship neared Val- 
paraiso, because there they would leave the liner 
from New York, and again ship in the boat they had 
built. They keenly scanned the pier as the vessel 
was being warped in. 

‘ ‘ Ah ! there is Blakely on the dock, ’ ^ said Harry. 

‘‘But I donT see the Pioneer here!^^ responded 
George. 

Pioneer was the name of the vessel they had built, 
and which brought them to that port from their is- 
land home. 

The moment the vessel came alongside the dock, 
George called to Blakely : ‘ ‘ Where is our boat ? ’ ’ 

“At Wonder Island,’’ was the reply. 

“At Wonder Island?” said Harry, and the boys 


THE ARROW ON THE SHEET 


49 


looked at each other in amazement. And now they 
must wait several weeks, probably, until it returns. 
This was disappointing, indeed. 

The boys rushed off. ‘‘And where shall we go 
now I ^ ’ asked Harry. 

“Over to our ship,’’ replied Blakely. 

They followed his gaze to a dock beyond, where 
lay a beautiful vessel, a steamer, all decked out with 
flags. 

“Is that our vessel!” 

“Yes, and I have been to Wonder Island on her 
since you left. We just arrived two days ago. We 
are ready to steam out within two hours. ’ ’ 

“Then don’t let us waste a moment’s time,” said 
Harry. 

‘ ‘ I thought you might want to take a look over the 
town,” said Blakely.” 

“I have no wish to do so, as long as we have the 
islands in view,” remarked George. “And how is 
the Professor,” he continued in an eager tone. 

“He is well and happy. But I have no doubt he 
longs for you, as he frequently goes over to your 
rooms, and wanders around the shop, a thing which 
he never did while you were there.” 

This was joyful news to the boys. How they 
longed to sail up Enterprise River. The steamer 
which Blakely had bought, and which was destined to 
ply between Wonder Island and the nearest trans- 
shipping point, was called the Wonder, a thing which 
the boys had not noticed until they were nearing the 
vessel. 


50 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


It was a saucy little steamer, and as they drew 
near Blakely said: ^‘What speed do you think she 
will maker’ 

‘‘Fifteen miles at least,” remarked Harry. 

“I am guaranteed eighteen miles an hour at the 
least.” 

“Isn’t that fine,” said George. “What does she 
burn?” 

“Either wood, coal or petroleum.” 

“Now would he the time to look up the oil deposits 
on the island,” remarked Harry. 

Within an hour the ship was under way, greatly to 
the delight of the boys. 

Notwithstanding the ship was sent forward under 
full steam, the speed was far too slow for the im- 
patient boys. They were on the bridge most of the 
time with the Captain who had been employed to run 
the vessel. He proved to be a jolly, red-faced tar, 
who loved the antics of the boys. 


CHAPTEE IV 


THE SKULL WITH THE CRYPTIC WRITING 

It was at the latter part of May when the Wonder 
steamed up the broad river which led to the town of 
Unity. When they were within two miles of the 
town, where they could begin to see the beautiful 
white houses in the distance, Blakely came up to the 
bridge, and suggested that it would be time to give 
the town a salute. 

The Captain gave the order and the great whistle 
began to make a horrible din, and kept it up for a full 
half mile. Long before the boat came into sight of 
the dock itself the boys could see the people of the 
town hurrying down to the wharf. 

When they saw the boys on the bridge pandemo- 
nium was let loose. 

‘‘This looks and acts just like a real American 
town,’’ said Harry. 

“See the Professor,” said Harry, as he rushed to 
the end of the bridge, and frantically waved his hat. 

The plank was swung and fastened, and the crew 
of natives rushed oif and met their friends, but 
George and Harry were not permitted to walk down 
the gang plank. The joy at seeing them again was 
so intense that the people took them on their shoul- 
ders, and the Professor had a hard time to get near 
enough to grasp them and bid a welcome. 

51 


52 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


The people marveled at the hoys. They were 
dressed up in regulation American style, and the 
Professor asked them if they had brought the ‘‘lat- 
est’’ cuts to put in the show windows. 

Everybody followed, and the bantering and cheer- 
ing made a continuous performance for them until 
they reached their home. All the chiefs were there, 
dressed up for the occasion, and what delighted them 
more than anything else was the fact that the Krish- 
nos, the former witch doctors of the tribes, and who 
were now the teachers for the children, were the first 
to offer congratulations on their return. 

There was no work in the town that day. Every- 
body determined to celebrate, and it was with hearts 
full of joy that the boys witnessed the demonstra- 
tions in their behalf. 

“Isn’t this a glorious home-coming?” said George. 
‘ ‘ It was worth the trip here to witness it. ’ ’ 

“It does seem strange to call it a ‘home-coming,’ 
but that is just what it is, ’ ’ answered Harry. ‘ ‘ How 
happy the people are. They seem to appreciate 
everything that has been done for them, and it is such 
a pleasure to do things for those who appreciate it.”* 

The stories which John brought to the Professor 
were so beguiling that he promised the boys that he 
would probably be able during the next year to make 
a visit with them to their homes, and this delighted 
them beyond measure. 

Although they had been absent four months, they 
noted many improvements made during their ab- 
sence. The boys, on their own initiative, visited 


SKULL WITH CRYPTIC WRITING 53 


many of the homes, and talked to the people, and told 
them of the visit home. And how those simple peo- 
ple enjoyed this kindly act, and cherished it for 
months afterwards. 

But it was now time to think seriously of the con- 
templated voyage of discovery, which was ever up- 
permost in the minds of the hoys. While conversing 
on the subject a few evenings after their return, 
Harry remarked: suppose we must use the 

Pioneer for our trip, as the Wonder will have to make 
the regular trips ? ’ ^ 

‘‘John and I think that would be the wisest plan. 
The native sailors are now well adapted to handle 
her, and do you know that Sutoto sailed her around 
the island r’ 

This was pleasing to the boys, who liked Sutoto. 

“And who are the others that went with himU^ 

“Why Lolo was one of them, and Stut and Chump. 
Oh, they had a jolly time; so they said, and I can 
believe it, because they are simply crazy to make 
another trip.^’ And the Professor beamed as he 
related many of the incidents which they told him of 
their experiences. 

While they were talking, Sutoto appeared, and 
was immediately admitted. After some talk, Sutoto 
said: “The Professor said that when you returned 
you would have some work for me with the Pioneer,*^ 

“Yes, and you shall command her,’’ said Harry. 

Sutoto could not but show his pleasure. ‘ ‘ I knew 
you would come back, but so many here said you 
would not.” 


54 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


At this point Professor explained that there were 
many rumors among the people to the effect that the 
hoys would never again come back, and all showed 
grief at the news. I assured them that yon were just 
as anxious to return as they were to have you and I 
then told Sutoto that I knew you had plans which 
would require his services, but I thought it would be 
more agreeable if you imparted the nature of it to 
him. 

The boys were not slow to outline the plans to him, 
but advised him to keep the information to himself, 
which he promised to do. It was enough for him to 
know that he would command the ship. It was this 
that induced Sutoto to take out the ship, and finally 
to circumnavigate the island, so as to try out the 
sailors and properly to fit them for the work when 
the boys returned. 

‘^Now that being settled, Sutoto, we are going to 
leave the work of provisioning the Pioneer to you. 
We must take a supply of guns and ammunition, as 
well, and probably it would be wise to have a small 
troop of the best soldiers,’’ was Harry’s instruction. 

^‘Uraso wants to go. I am sure he would be the 
best one to take. 

“What will Muro say to that?” asked the Pro- 
fessor. 

“Oh, take him along, by all means,” said George, 
“because I want Lolo to go with us.” 

It was then settled that they were to take a small 
force, sufficient for immediate purposes, and if it was 
found that the islands discovered were too well set- 


SKULL WITH CRYPTIC WRITINC 55 


tied with hostiles it would be an easy matter to re- 
main aloof, or return for reinforcements. 

While arrangements were being made for the de- 
parture of the expedition Blakely informed the Pro- 
fessor that it would be good policy to make up part 
of the cargo of the Wonder with copper, and that 
both vessels could proceed to the southeastern part 
of the island, and the men aboard could be used to 
transport the copper to the sea. 

In this way the expedition would serve a double 
purpose. No one attempted to go contrary to the 
wishes of Blakely on matters which touched upon the 
commercial ventures in which they were engaged. 

J ohn was only too glad that Blakely had hit upon 
that idea, as he was anxious to visit that part of the 
coast, contiguous to the copper deposit, and what was 
more, he wanted to see the place where Blakely found 
the missive which the boys had translated. 

As there was still a week before the Wonder would 
sail for its northern port of call, both of the ships 
wended their way to the east, skirting the coast as 
closely as possible, John on the Pioneer with the 
boys. 

They now had an opportunity to see the Great 
South Mountains from the sea. They remembered 
when they last saw them on land, during the cam- 
paign against the Iliyas, and also the wonderful vil- 
lage on the western side of the mountains. What 
would their present wanderings bring forth? 

That evening they landed within a cove, both ves- 
sels being brought as near the shore as possible. 


56 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


‘‘We can safely go in close this evening, because the 
tide is now out,’’ said John. 

Sutoto, while he had navigated the vessel, and had 
shown remarkable skill, was, nevertheless, not well 
versed in tides and the action of the moon. 

Quick to learn, he asked John why the tides thus 
changed. John explained the reason that the tides 
flowed in and out twice during each twenty-four 
hours, or a little less than that time, so that high 
water, or low water would always be at a time a lit- 
tle later each day, and then stated that it would he 
an easy matter to so make the calculations that they 
would be able to tell ahead for a whole year just 
when during each day the highest or lowest water 
would be. 

While waiting on the ship during the hours of the 
evening they were interested in the magnificent fire 
flies which they saw on the shore and along the moun- 
tain side. This was not an unfamiliar sight to them 
as they had witnessed such scenes many times before. 

But now they saw such sights as they had never 
before observed. They must have been giant glow 
birds, because some of the lights flew at least hun- 
dreds of feet emitting continuous streams of light, 
and this was not all, many of the lights were colored, 
particularly red and blue or simply faint tinges of 
those tints. 

“I have often thought that there is nothing more 
wonderful than the fire fly, ’ ’ said George. 

“But what do you think makes it so wonderful?” 
asked John. 


SKULL WITH CRYPTIC WRITING 57 


‘‘Well, I suppose the wonderful part is that it has 
strength enough to make a light, answered Harry. 

“No, the remarkable thing is that the light which 
it emits is absolutely cool. 

Experiments which have 
been made go to show that 
there is no heat. In every 
form of light which man 
has been able to produce 
thus far artificially, a 
great heat is evolved, and 
it would he a most valu- 
able discovery to find out 

why these insects are able to do it without raising the 
temperature. ^ ^ 

“But what difference does it make if heat is pro- 
duced U’ asked Harry. 

‘ ‘ The production of heat means the loss of power. 
The heat generated takes up more of the power than 
the light which is produced, so that it would be a 
great economy if the heat could be dispensed with. ^ ^ 

“But if there was no heat in the light produced 
would it make any difference in the lamps them- 
selves T’ 

“Unquestionably. The lamps would last much 
longer. ’ ’ 

“What are the things which must be learned in 
order to get the secret of cold light T’ 

“Well, there are number of questions which must 
be determined. While it is known that the fire fly 
and the glow worm emit what is called a phosphores- 



58 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


cent ligM, this fact is a mere prelude to the knowl- 
edge of what is the exact color of daylight. ’ ^ 

Color of Daylight? Why, I supposed it was 
white. 

‘‘But the light of the glow worm and fire fly are 
not white. ’ ’ 

They watched them, and soon appreciated that 
John’s statement was true. 

“You asked what were some of the things to he 
solved? Well, to find out the secret of the phosphor- 
escent glow. That is one thing. WTiat is the best 
artificial light, is the next. Then, what substance 
will have the most intense glow when a current 
passes through it, and give out the least heat.” 

“Well, has no one attempted to explain any of 
these things?” 

“Yes; many explanations have been offered, but 
•all of them leave the subject dark somewhere. ’ ’ And 
John laughed as he saw that the boys appreciated his 
little attempt at witticism. 

“But the time wiU come when man will find out 
this, as everything in his way. When you think of it, 
that electricians, chemists, metallurgists, physiolo- 
gists, engineers, physicists and microscopists, are all 
working on the problem, we should be able to extract 
the secret sooner or later.” 

‘^I am going to have some of those fellows,” 
shouted George, and when the natives on board 
heard the request of George there was a scramble for 
the boats, and John was delighted to give them in- 
structions for capturing the insects. 


SKULL WITH CEYPTIC WRITING 59 


Early the next day the entire party landed, and 
Blakely, together with John and the boys, started 
for the high peak, the one visible for miles from the 
west, and which John and the hoys often wished to 
visit. 

One of the things which the boys brought with 
them from the States, was a pair of strong glasses, 
and these were constantly in use. 

^‘What do you say to scaling that pointT’ said 
Harry. 

^‘Just what I have been thinking about, said 
George. 

Sutoto, who was with the party, showed by his 
glowing eyes that he wanted to be of the party. 
‘^Certainly you shall go,” said Harry* 

^‘Before going we must visit the place where the 
Walter note was found,” called out John. 

The boys had forgotten this. ‘‘Most assuredly,” 
answered George, “I had almost forgotten that.” 

' Blakely led the way up alongside the rugged cliff. 
“See that bluish green outcroppiog,” he said as they 
were pulling themselves up. 

John stopped and chipped off some specimens. 
“Wonderful!” he exclaimed. “Better than any- 
thing I have ever found in Mexico. These hills re- 
mind me of the formation all along western Chi- 
huahua, and through northeastern Sonora.” 

The ledge on which they finally emerged was fully 
six hundred feet above sea level. When they turned 
around and viewed the sea below them, and saw the 
ships at anchor, they were delirious with joy. Hpw 


60 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


Sutoto enjoyed the scene. He had never seen any- 
thing like it before and he was amazed and stupefied. 
He turned and grasped George by the hand. He was 
too full to speak. 

‘^But wait, Sutoto, until we get to the top,’^ said 
Harry, as he saw his countenance. As they looked 
up at the top they wondered what they might see 
from the elevation. 

^‘Here is the spot,^^ cried out Blakely. ‘‘This is 
the pot in which the message was found. And here 
is something that I dug up afterwards.’’ 



JTTg.^. Inscription Q2L^ ^kzdl 

The boys crowded around. It was a skull on 
which was engraved the characters ABCC, followed 
by a star. 

All looked at John, thinking he might offer some 
solution. He turned it over, and examined every 
portion. Not a word was spoken. “Tell me the ex- 
act position in which this was found,” he asked, as 
he looked at Blakely. 

“The first thing I found was the pot, which was 
simply turned upside down, in exactly this way. ^ 


SKULL WITH CRYPTIC WRITING 


61 


This is the place. It rested on this flat stone. The 
skull was behind it on this upper shelf. 

'‘And was there nothing else on the shelf 

"Nothing whatever.’’ 

John stooped down and carefully examined the 
shelf. All followed his motions. "Do you see that 
mark f ” he said, pointing to a heavy scratch, which 
was now plain. "That mark is associated with the 
skull, if not with the message. I am unable at this 
time fully to decipher the marks on the skull, but I 
have an idea of the meaning.” 

' ' I wonder if the scratch across that is in the same 
direction as the arrow in the letter T’ asked George. 

"Unquestionably: let me see your glasses,” and 
George unslung them as John took them and gazed 
long in the direction of the line on the shelf. 

He lowered the glasses and slowly shook his head. 
Something was forming itself in his mind, this was 
evident. He walked around the ledge and back 
again. Finally, he said: "I wish it were night, it 
might help to solve the riddle.” 

"xind whyf” asked Harry. 

"Those letters have reference to the star which 
follows.” 

"It seems to me to be a singular thing that any- 
one should leave this here in the hope or expectation 
that it could be a guide for any one,” remarked 
George. 

"There is certainly one explanation of that,” an- 
swered John. "It is evident that the articles were 
placed there as a form of note to others, and it is a 


62 ADYENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


sort of cryptic sign, intelligible only to those who 
have the key. The fact that these signs are here 
denote several things, one of which is that something 
important, such, for instance, as treasures, or the 
location of hidden wealth, or the directions neces- 
sary to find mining lodes, or even to point out the 
direction and distances of other islands in the dis- 
tance.’^ 

‘‘But,” said Harry, “the fact that we have found 
these things here looks as though there were other 
parties besides Walter and that he was associated 
with them in some sort of enterprise.” 

‘ ‘ Quite true ; but I am not at all satisfied that the 
Walter note has anything to do with the skull. In 
fact there is every evidence to me that they are en- 
tirely disconnected with each other.” 

This announcement was the most surprising to 
Blakely, who now added a few points of information. 
“I should have said that the skull was not exposed 
as you now see it on the shelf. After I went up the 
side of the hiU, I returned and landed on the ledge, 
and then I noticed the skull through the apertures 
formed by the stones now lying at the side. ’ ’ 

“That is evidence to my mind, that Walter knew 
nothing of the existence of the skull at the time he 
left the message, and yet, singular as it may seem, 
both the skull and Walter’s message point to the 
same thing.” 

This announcement was certainly curious and in- 
teresting, and keyed up the listeners to a high pitch 
of expectation. 


CHAPTER V 


THE TRIP TO THE NEW ISLAND 

Exciting as were the events alluded to in the last 
chapter, the boys insisted on taking Sutoto to the top 
of the peak. John and Blakely gathered up the frag- 
ments, and when the boys left they were busily en- 
gaged in making careful measurements of the stone 
and ledges. 

It was not an easy task to gain the summit, but 
when they reached it, there was spread before them 
the most remarkable panorama. To the north they 
could see South River, the first stream they discov- 
ered when they came to the island. 

They looked on it almost lovingly. “ If it were not 
for the mountain range to the north we could see 
clear to Cataract,’^ said Harry. 

‘ ‘ The dear old place ’ exclaimed George. Sutoto 
smiled. He had been there, and he shared the views 
of the boys. 

‘‘Let me have the glasses,’^ shouted Harry, as he 
adjusted them and turned to the west. “Unity,” 
was the only thing he said, as he handed the glasses 
to Sutoto. The latter looked, and stepped back in 
surprise. George kept his eyes on Sutoto, as the lat- 
ter bent forward in his eagerness to see the town 

63 


64 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


which was now so plain to him, although more than 
fifty miles away. 

George leisurely took the glasses, as Sutoto said 
slowly, and with proper emphasis, “Wonderful! 
wonderful ! ’ ’ 

He turned the glasses to the southeast, hoping to 
catch a glimpse of the land of treasures, but they saw 
nothing but the wide open sea, calm and peaceful, 
and he wondered that it could ever be so angry and 
tempestuous as they had known it to be on two 
momentous occasions. 

They remained there for a long time, and viewed 
every portion of the island. When they descended 
they took a route leading to the west, and when 
nearly at the bottom, heard the unmistakable sounds 
of voices below them. For a moment the boys were 
alarmed, but Sutoto set up a shout, his quick ears 
having detected the voices of their friends. It was 
the first caravan load of copper which they were 
taking from the great cave near the Iliyas’ village. 

“Glory! we are near the Iliyas’ village,” said 
Harry, as he stumbled down the mountain side, and 
saw the train of men mth the loads. 

They would now do some more visiting. They 
must surely go over to the village where they cap- 
tured the last of the hostile tribes. As they neared 
the village they were surprised to see Oma coming 
toward them. He greeted them like a monarch, and 
led them into the village. 

“I am glad to welcome you,” he said. The boys 
were astounded at the words. This man, the most 


THE TRIP TO THE NEW ISLAND 65 


vindictive and bitter of all the tribesmen, bad learned 
to speak, and showed by his actions that he was glad 
to welcome them. 

But when they came to the village, the surprise of 
the boys was so great that they could hardly speak. 
Instead of filth and uncleanliness everywhere, they 
saw carefully attended lawns, and houses, instead of 
huts. The people came out and greeted them with 
laughter. 

And then the boys recognized many of the men 
who had lived in Unity, and who had worked for 
them in the shops, and in the fields. The Chief then 
escorted them to the large building, the same one in 
which the Chief was captured by the boys, the year 
before. 

What a change! Formerly the furniture in the 
room w’as one jumbled mass of debris, and the house- 
hold arrangements were only such as savage condi- 
tions warranted. Now, the large interior had been 
cut up into rooms, and they were furnished with 
comfortable belongings. 

The Chief saw the curiosity of the boys, and he 
read their thoughts. ^‘You wonder at the differ- 
ence? Yes; it is a difference. We owe it to that 
wonderful Chief, and to you, and to John.’’ 

‘A^es; John will be here soon,” said George. 

‘ H have seen him. He will be here. We are pre- 
paring a great feast for him,” and the boys opened 
their eyes and smiled as they heard this announce- 
ment. 

The people flocked about them, and the men who 


66 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


knew the boys were only too prond to be recognized 
by them. Thus they visited every nook and corner 
of the town, surprised and glad to see that the Chief 
had insisted on his people going to Unity and learn- 
ing the ways of the white people. 

There was a further reason why the coming of 
John and of Blake was a joyous event. Oma had 
been informed that the great copper mines were to 
be opened in the mountains, which would insure work 
for every one, and that they would be able to buy 
every sort of luxury and enjoy all the comforts of the 
white people. 

Late that evening John and Blakely came accom- 
panied by two hundred of the Iliyas who had ac- 
tually been engaged during the day in transporting 
copper from the cave to the hold of the Wonder, 

The feast and the celebration that night in a vil- 
large which, only a few months before, was of the 
most savage character, was, indeed, a marvel. Oma 
Could scarcely express himself with enough earnest- 
ness, and the women were following the boys with 
their eyes, and actually caressing them, in their 
eagerness to show appreciation. 

When the time came for them to leave, the Chief 
accompanied the men to the shore below South 
Mountain to witness their departure. Before they 
left the village, the things which had been brought 
there by the ships for the Iliyas were placed in the 
Chief ^s storehouse, and Blakely paid the members of 
the party who had assisted them. This, also, was 
the occasion for much rejoicing. 


THE TEIP TO THE NEW ISLAND 67 


Blakely, on board the Wonder, waved an adien to 
the boys and John as the boats separated, and Sutoto 
gave the order to sail directly southeast. 

During the afternoon the sea was calm and af- 
forded a beautiful sail, but during the night a strong 
breeze came up and its intensity varied during the 
night. The next day, however, the sea became 
choppy, and over two-thirds of the natives were roll- 
ing around on the deck in the agonies of sea-sickness. 

‘‘This will give us an opportunity to try the new 
cure for the malady,’’ said John. 

“What is that?” asked George. 

‘ ‘ Simply atrophine. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ How is it administered ? ’ ’ 

“By injecting it.” 

“What is atrophine?” asked Harry. 

“It is a crystalline, bitter and poisonous alkaloid, 
taken from the deadly nightshade, and the same 
principle is also found in the thorn apple. ’ ’ 

“Isn’t it the same as belladonna?” remarked 
George. 

“No; but belladonna is also an extract of night- 
shade.” 

“Have you any of it here?” 

“Yes; I brought some, together with the other 
drugs that the Professor ordered, and I am anxious 
to try it. The remedy was discovered by Prof. 
Fischer, of Munich, and also simultaneously by Dr. 
Reginald Pollard, of South Kensington, England.” 

Accompanied by the boys John went among the 
sufferers, and administered the medicine, giving at 


68 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS j 

I 

each injection abont l-64th of a grain. It was re- ' 
markable in its effects. Within a half hour the 
sickening feeling in the stomach disappeared, the 
eyes began to grow bright again, the pulse fuU, and 
the patient became strong and vigorous. 

None of them objected to John’s ministrations. 
Their confidence in his ability was sufficient for them 
and the results justified their faith. 

When the boys came on deck in the morning, they 
strained their eyes looking toward the horizon for 
land but there was no land in sight. John was al- 
ready on deck and he smiled as he saw them ascend 
the ladder. ^‘And where is your island?” he asked. 

^^How far have we gone?” 

We have been driven somewhat out of our course, 
it is true ; but we are more than a hundred miles from 
Wonder Island, and have sailed past the place where 
the other island ought to be, according to Walter’s 
letter.” And John chuckled somewhat, at the crest- 
fallen looks of the boys. 

“Where are we going now?” 

“I told Sutoto we would better tack to the south- 
west. We can use up a day at that course, and then 
double back, probably thirty or forty miles to the 
south, and in that way we can cover a wide area. ’ ’ 

While sailing in that direction they had to go 
pretty much into the face of the wind, but it was con- 
sidered wise to explore that region to the south of 
the islands first, and then take another section to the 
east or to the west. 

Night came on without any indications of land, and 


THE TRIP TO THE NEW ISLAND 69 


the course was altered directly to the east. The boys 
remained up until nearly twelve that night, but no 
light or evidence of land came in sight. Tired with 
the exertions of the day, they retired, and were soon 
asleep. 

How long they slept was immaterial to them. Su- 
toto came into their cabin, and awakened them, say- 
ing, ^‘We can see some lights in the east.’’ They 
heard the voice, and its earnest expression, and with- 
out waiting to dress scrambled out. Far off to the 
southeast was a faint glimmer, then it died away. 

After a moment or two it appeared again, some- 
what brighter than before. The night was intensely 
dark, and the wind was blowing a steady gale, so 
that the boat not only rocked but it moved forward 
into the lines of waves across their path. 

John was above, and they hurriedly rushed to see 
him. He was smiling, as they approached, and he 
greeted them by saying ‘^We have reached your is- 
land, probably.” 

^‘How long have you seen the light?” asked 
George. 

‘^A half hour, or more,” he answered. 

The boys were not in the mood now to return to 
bed, so they went back to dress, and then returned, 
meanwhile watching the light with eager eyes. The 
course of the ship was directed toward it, and every 
one on board had now heard the news. 

Soon the watch on the port side sang out: ‘‘Land 
ahead,” and every one sprang to the left side. 
There, plainly in the darkness, was a headland, or a 


70 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


spur, wliich they were passing at almost right angles. 
The most intense excitement prevailed. 

Still the light was directly ahead, and, apparently, 
a long distance from them. John told Sutoto to haul 
in the sails, and to take a course directly to the 
south. He explained that it would be wise to stand 
off the shore as long as possible, as the ship’s clock 
showed that it was now past four o’clock so that 
within the next hour they might be able to view the 
land clearly enough to determine their future course. 

Impatiently they awaited that period of gloom 
which is said to be the darkest time, — ^just before the 
dawn. This seemed to be so to the watchers, but 
shortly after five the curtain lifted. A slight haze 
was over the land, but they had found an island, at 
least. 

‘‘Do you know our position?” asked Harry, as 
John approached “Yes; I have just figured it out. 
We are fifty leagues (one hundred and fifty miles) 
southeast of Wonder Island” 

The boys looked at each other. Evidently Walter 
was wrong, or they had read his letter incorrectly. 
But they saw land, and John assured them that there 
was no land between that place and their own is- 
land. 

Anxiously they awaited daylight, and when it came 
they gazed out on a barren waste, — a rocky and un- 
inviting shore. 

“Steer for the little cove beyond the great rock,” 
said John. 

The sails were hoisted, and the vessel slowly moved 


THE TRIP TO THE NEW ISLAND 71 


south, and rounded into the waters bounded by the 
circular shore line. The anchor was soon cast, and 
then began the launching of the boats. 

John called the men before him, and gave a few 
words of advice. ‘‘We have no knowledge of the 
character of the land, or of the people who may live 
there. Two boats will be manned, and ten will take 
their places in each. Uraso wiU have charge of one, 
and Muro of the other. When we reach the shore 
Muro will remain with the men under his command, 
while Uraso will follow me. It will be understood 
that so long as no shots are heard by Muro and his 
party that our expedition is safe, but should any fir- 
ing be heard, then the ship must be signaled and 
those in the vessel here must comje to shore, and Muro 
with his soldiers will at once come to our relief. I 
hope we shall have no occasion for calling on you, 
but we must be prepared for any emergency.’’ 

The two boats pulled for the shore. After land- 
ing John, with Uraso ’s men the boys quickly scram- 
bled up the rough cliffs beyond. When the heights 
were gained they looked over a beautifully wooded 
landscape, but it was still, except for the birds and 
the smaU animals which looked at them in a startled 
manner, and then scurried for cover. 

“I doubt whether there are any people living 
here,” remarked Harry. “There is not a sign of 
living beings.” 

“You are quite mistaken there,” said John. 

The boys looked at John. “Have you seen any 
signs?” asked George. 


72 ADVENTUEES ON STKANGE ISLANDS 


‘‘Yes.; did you notice liow the animals fled at our 
approach r’ 

They had noticed it, but neglected to draw any in- 
ference from it. 

“Xhat is one of the surest signs. Do you now 
remember how differently the animjals acted in the 
region around Cataract from those in the southwest 
portion of Wonder Island T’ 

“I now remember that is so. DonT you remem- 
ber, George, when we came across the first herd of 
yaks, that they hardly noticed us? I am sure that 
the animals out at West Eiver didnT wait to inter- 
view us.’’ 

“Well, I remember the big bear was very anxious 
to make our acquaintance,” said George, and Harry 
smiled, as he remembered how the big fellow took 
his revenge by tearing up their baggage. 

J ohn directed the men to the right, and in the direc- 
tion of an elevation which seemed to be clear of tim- 
ber. From that point they searched the intervening 
wooded area, and caught sight of a still higher table- 
land miles beyond. 

“Your glasses would be serviceable here,” said 
John. George handed them to John, and he gazed 
through them long and earnestly. “I am unable to 
find any traces of human beings, and I cannot ac- 
count for the light which we saw during the night, 
and which must have been nearly ahead of us. ’ ’ 

He walked forward, the men following. They 
marched for more than a mile, every object being 
examined. Fallen trees were particularly invest!- 


THE TRIP TO THE NEW ISLAND 73 


gated, and clumps of trees were searched, even the 
bark of trees being minutely gone over by John. 

The natives, generally so keen to discover evi- 
dences of their kind, walked along, and shook their 
heads, to indicate the absence of all signs. The land 
in the interior was elevated, but it was not rough or 
broken, the only place where an upheaval had taken 
place appearing to be the west coast. 

^‘This seems to look bad for our purposes,’’ said 
John, as he turned to the boys. 

^^What do you mean!” asked Harry. 

don’t think there are any caves in this section,” 
he answered. ‘^But we might as well investigate 
farther to the right, and see what the land looks 
like.” 

‘‘Aren’t those cotfee trees!” said George, in great 
eagerness, as he bounded forwardly. 

There, not a hundred feet away, were the beautiful 
trees with white clusters all over them. Thousands 
of these trees were in sight. 

“I believe we have struck a cotfee plantation,” ex- 
claimed Harry. 

John did not answer, but went up to one of the 
trees and carefully examined it. “No these trees 
have grown wild, and no one has ever gathered the 
berries.” 

“But what an opportunity there would be here for 
gathering cotfee ! Too bad Blakely isn’t here,” said 
George. 

“We never saw anything like it on Wonder Is- 
land,” suggested Harry. “Now, why is it that co- 


74 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


coa will grow in wonderful profusion on one island, 
and none on the next, and the other island will have 
bananas and the other not ? ’ ’ 

‘‘The explanation of that has been the means of 
bringing out a wonderful study, that is explained by 
the nature of the soil itself. In every country cer- 
tain sections will spontaneously produce product 
alike, in almost every essential quality. Thus, flax, 
for instance, is found, identical in its character, in 
Kamscatska, and in Minnesota ; in the Siberian wilds 
and in Central America ; on the heights of the Hima- 
layas, and in the lowest plains of South America. ’ ’ 

“But how do you explain the similarity! They 
must have come from seed, and how did the seeds get 
from place to place, when there were no ships to 
carry them?’’ 

‘ ‘ There can be only one explanation. The soil it- 
self, if identical in its character, will, eventually, 
produce the same vegetables and vegetation. Thus, 
it has been found that the localities where this wild 
fl'ax was found, had soil which was the same in its 
nature, and calculated to produce the same in kind. ’ ’ 

For four hours the little band marched to the 
south, and came back along a track nearer the sea, 
without discovering the slightest indication of hu- 
man habitations, except the frightened looks and 
actions of the animals in their path. 



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CHAPTEE VI 


DISCOVEEY OF THE ISLAND AND EXPLORATIONS 

Weary, they dragged themselves over the cliffs 
and down to the waiting natives. Muro was sur- 
prised to learn that they had found no signs of peo- 
ple, so they rowed back to the ship, and after a 
hearty meal, retired for the night. 

In the morning when they asked John for his opin- 
ion, he said, ‘‘The only course is to sail south, and 
circumnavigate the island. In doing so we shall ef- 
fect a landing every ten miles or so, and then go into 
the interior. This wiU thus enable us to learn all 
about the land. At the same time we must survey 
the island, so as to learn its extent, as well as its 
general shape and outline.’’ 

“But how can we survey it without the instru- 
ments ! ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ That is readily done, by observing the headlands, 
or some special coast line marks, and then taking 
the angles from those points.” 

“Well, that will be interesting, at least. How 
shall we start?” 

“Do you see that point to the south which may 
be five or ten miles away?” 

“Yes.” 

“Now, examine the compass, and turn it so that 

102 75 


76 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


the cardinal points are directly north and sonth. 
Now sight across the face of the compass so that you 
get the exact line between this point and yonder ob- 
ject. What do you make it to be U ^ 

“Why I make it out to be S. E.’’ 



J^ig. 6. Mea^uriJig 

‘ ^ That is correct. The line 1 is south by east. ’ ^ 
“But how can we find out how long line 1 is?” 
asked Harry. 

“Why by triangulation,” said George, quickly. 

“I know that, but how can we do it on sea!” 

“It can be done on sea, as well as on land, but we 
had better go and make the first measurement by tri- 


DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND 


77 


j angulation correctly, and do this in our subsequent 
I measurements, unless it should be necessary to make 
I the measurements at sea. The plan followed on 
shipboard will be found similar to the plan followed 
on land.^’ 

The boat was manned and the boys with a crew of 
the men and John made for the shore, and together 
they went inland to a point marked B (Fig. 5), and 
sighted across to the same object C that was noted 
of the ship. This, then, gave three lines, 1, 2 and 
3, forming a triangle. 

‘Hf these angles are placed on a paper the dis- 
tance from A to C can be determined on the princi- 
ciples of proportion,’’ remarked John. 

‘^How is that done?” 

^^We will assume that the lines 1, 2, are at right 
angles to each other. This is not necessary, but it 
happens to be so in this case. Let us first measure 
the distance along the line 2, which may be any num- 
ber of inches, or feet. Suppose we call the line one 
inch long. Then draw the line 1, so that it wiU be 
sufficiently long to be sure and meet the line 3. ’ ’ 

^ ‘ Yes ; I now see how it is done,” remarked George, 
with enthusiasm. ^Hf the line 3 is drawn at the 
angle we got, when we looked at C, from B, the line 
will cross line 1 at C.” 

‘‘That is correct Now, if it is one inch from A to 
B, we may use that inch as a measurement to get the 
distance along the line.” 

“Let me step it off,” said Harry. “I find it is 
just two and three-quarters inches.” 


78 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


^^What was the distance, in feet from A to 
asked John. 

‘‘I have the figures here,’’ said George. ‘‘We j 
found it was six hundred and ninety feet.” 

“If, now, you will multiply 690 by 2%, we shall , 
have the distance from this point A, and yonder 


point, or headland C.” 



“I make it out to be just 1897.5,” was Harry’s con-| 
elusion. 

The boys, together with John and a half dozen ofj 
the natives, went along the shore, and mounted the] 
point C, and from that place selected another point! 
in a southerly direction, and again made the samej 
calculations. 

The vessel in the meantime was put under sail and] 


DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND 


79 


anchored a mile below, giving the surveying party 
time to make several triangulations, and late in the 
afternoon the party came on board, tired and ready 
to take a rest. 

From the position taken up by the ship they could 
see a long stretch of shore line, practically straight, 
trending toward the southeast, and with their glass 
could see, miles away, a headland which atforded a 
pronounced point for observation. 

The next morning the same parties rowed to the 
shore, and Uraso was left with the party to guard the 
shore boat, while Muro accompanied John and the 
boys. On this occasion John issued the following 
instruction : 

^‘The long point which you see in the distance 
is, probably, 15 miles beyond. It is not more than 
that, but this clear atmosphere is liable to deceive. I 
have instructed Sutoto to wait until one o^clock to- 
day, and if by that time there is no word from us 
Uraso will return to the ship, and you will take up 
anchor and steer for the headland beyond.’’ 

‘ ^ So that you may understand our movements, we 
wiU strike into the interior, taking a course due east, 
for ten miles, or thereabout, and then turn to the 
south, and reach the sea near the place where the 
vessel will be located.” 

understand, now, how the distance can be 
measured by triangulation on land; but how to get 
the distances, on shipboard, is what puzzles me,” 
said Harry. 

John smiled as he replied: ‘H knew you would 


80 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


come to that sooner or later, so I prepared a little 
sketch (Fig. 7), which shows the bow of a vessel, 
and the tall mast. The lines from A to B give an 
angle with the vertical line of the mast, which vdll 
enable yon to determine how far the ship is from any 
point. ’ ’ 

^‘But I am still in the dark as to how, even if we 
have that distance, we can thereby tell by triangula- 



Z from £/. 


tion, on the vessel, how far one point is from another 
on the land. ^ ^ 

After the distance from the vessel to the point is 
determined, as I have shown, then the length of the 
ship itself is used as the two points to sight from, and 
the two lines thus projected, from the opposite ends 
of the vessel, together with the line lengthwise along 
the ship, form a triangle, the same as the triangle 
lines 1, 2, 3, in the sketch (Fig. 5).^’ 

It might be well at this place to describe the equip- 
ment of the party as it left the boat. The natives 
carried a plentiful supply of provisions. Each had 


DISCOVEEY OF THE ISLAND 81 

a gun, the best kind of breech loaders, and also a 
spear. 

The natives love to handle spears better than any- 
thing else in the way of a weapon, and each also had 
a knife, and some carried the inevitable bolo, that 
primitive form of hatchet which is known all over the 
world where steel or iron is available, and the people 
have arrived at such a state that they are able to 
make metal articles. 

John and the boys also carried guns, but the boys 
had revolvers, seven shooters, not of large bore, but 
very convenient weapons, in close quarters. Each 
carried also a knife, and belt to contain the car- 
tridges for the guns. 

Harry carried a camera, which he had bro-i^ght 
from the States, and George had the field glass 
strapped across the shoulders. John felt that they 
had a force large enough to make a fairly etfective 
stand against a pretty strong force of natives, the 
entire party counting, in this instance, sixteen. 

As they advanced into the interior, it was evident 
that they were gradually ascending, so that at about 
six miles from the landing place they reached the 
crest of the rising ground. Beyond, where the na- 
ture of the ground permitted they saw clearly that 
the distance beyond had a lower altitude than the 
place where they stood. 

During this trip there was no evidence that the 
island was occupied, but they saw the most amazing 
evidences of tropical fruits and trees. Magnificent 
trees were in evidence everywhere, and the woods. 


82 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


besides mahogany, and ebony, were of the most val- 
uable character. 

John noted aU these things, but the boys were 
most interested in the birds and animals which 
roamed about The latter were not large or vicious 
looking, but it was not permitted to shoot any of 
them lest it might alarm Uraso, who was at the land- 
ing. 

Ahead could be seen several ridges, one of them 
heavily wooded. Reaching the summit they beheld 
a beautiful valley below, and opposite on a shelving 
rock, stood a type of mountain deer like a sentinel, 
while a dozen or more were feeding on the green 
slope beneath. 

Frequently on the march the boys would take side 
trips, in the attempt to run down some of the curious 
animals, but they were careful to keep the main 
force in sight. 

Thus they tramped on fully five miles beyond the 
crest of the ridge, and occasionally John would stop 
to examine some suspicious-looking indication of 
habitation. 

‘‘It would surprise me very much to find that the 
island is not inhabited,’^ he said, as he examined 
what appeared to be a path. 

At this juncture one of the native scouts came up 
and showed John a curious stone formation. John 
took it, and turned it over several times. “That is 
part of a stone hatchet. The scout nodded assent 
with a smile. 


DISCOYEEY OF THE ISLAND 


83 


All now became intent on searching. This finally 
resulted in bringing to light a well-formed spear, not 
unhke those originally used on Wonder Island among 
the native tribes. 

Surely they were getting evidence pretty fast now. 
Then, while crossing a little rivulet, one of the scouts 
plainly saw the print of a native foot, which was 
unmistakable. True, it had been made days before, 
probably a month, but there it was, and now it was 
incumbent on them to find out where the people were. 

The entire party scattered along the little stream, 
and searched both banks for a considerable distance, 
the boys taking an active part in the work. Usually 
the boys kept together, and entertained each other, 
but on this occasion all were so intent on discovering 
where, and in what direction the footprints would 
lead, that they quite forgot to watch each other. 

John gave a customary whistle, as he wa*s in the 
habit of doing, when it was desired to call the party 
together, and all of the scouts promptly returned, as 
weU as Harry. George was nowhere to be seen. 
John questioned Harry. He had first missed him at 
the bend in the stream not two hundred feet to the 
north. 

He rushed back in that direction, while John gave 
another blast on the whistle, and then listened in- 
tently for a reply. Harry came back without any 
intelligence, and almost frantic. John and the 
scouts then broke into a run, and Harry turned with 
them. 


84 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


That instant a shot rang out. ‘‘That mnst be 
George,’’ exclaimed John. “Forward as quickly as 
possible. ’*’ 

The party turned the bend of the river. All along 
this part of the stream the banks were cut up by 
ridges and diminutive clitfs, and in many places were 
large shelving rocks which came up close to the 
stream. 

Immediately after the shot John stopped, and 
listened for some sound, and the natives, usually so 
alert to recognize noises, did likewise. 

“That shot means that George is in some danger,” 
said John. 

“But why does he not answer the whistle? Why 
should he shoot, and then not call to us, if there is 
any danger,” said Harry in despair. 

They turned the bend, and searched to and fro. 
The shot could not have been more than eight hun- 
dred feet away. The searchers spread out into a 
fan-shaped formation. One of the scouts ran up 
hurriedly and called to John, who went forward, and 
there, alongside of a huge rock, where there was lit- 
tle grass, he saw unmistakable evidence of a scuffle. 

“These are the footprints of George’s shoes,” re- 
marked Harry. 

“Yes, and here are the prints of the native feet,” 
said J ohn, as one of the scouts distinctly pointed out 
two or three weU defined marks. 

“They are, undoubtedly, near at hand. We must 
now be on our guard,” said John, as he pondered 
on the situation. 


DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND 


85 


‘H wonder why they didnT attack us?’’ asked 
Harry. 

‘‘The reason, no doubt, is that it is a small party. 
A larger body would not have attempted to capture 
one of us by stealth. ’ ’ 

John turned to Hasmo, one of the fleetest runners, 
and instructed him to go back to the landing place 
at once, and advise Uraso to bring his men and pro- 
visions, as well as additional ammunition, and to hold 
the ship until additional word should be sent. 

Hasmo was off in an instant, and then John issued 
additional instructions. “It is evident,” he said, 
“that we must look for the people to the east or, 
more likely, toward the southeast. That is the 
reason why I had the boat held at the place where we 
have just landed. There is also another reason why 
I think the tribes, if there are any, are to the south, 
and that is, in this latitude they are much less ex- 
posed to the effects of the great winds that occur at 
certain portions of the year.” 

Harry wandered about, not knowing what to do, at 
this terrible catastrophe. George in the hands of the 
savages ! He could hardly believe it. 

“Don’t worry about George too much,” said John 
consolingly. “I am inclined to think he has had 
enough experience within the past two years to help 
him out of immediate trouble, and we will then be 
able to take a hand.” 

This somewhat relieved Harry. It is possible that 
George might be able to take care of himself. “But 
suppose they kill him?” This was his great fear. 


86 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


‘ ‘ It is not at all likely they will do that, ’ ’ remarked 
Muro. Those who captured him form only a small 
party, and it is not at all likely that there was a chief 
with them. Under the circumstances they would not 
dare kill him until the Chief ordered it. ’ ’ 

John smiled as he nodded at the explanation 
given by Muro. After all, it was not as bad as it 
might be. Now to the rescue. Muro begged per- 
mission to do scouting work until Uraso arrived, and 
selecting Stut as his companion, they glided through 
the forest directly to the east. 

They were now fully twelve miles from the boat, 
and the runner could be depended on to reach Uraso 
within an hour, if not hindered on the journey. It 
would then take, possibly, two hours more for the 
party to return, so that it was safe to assume that 
they would have to remain in the vicinity for the next 
three hours. 

John decided that the time should be spent in ex- 
ploring the directions to the southeast and to the 
northeast as well, so they might be well informed 
when the reinforcements arrived. 

Hasmo glided through the forest like a deer. He 
knew that it was imperative to reach the shore before 
one o’clock, because at that time the vessel would 
leave for the southeastern point. To get there too 
late would mean a trip for fifteen miles or more along 
the shore to reach the next landing. 

The dense forest near the shore prevented him 
from seeing the vessel until he crossed the last ridge. 


DISCOVEEY OF THE ISLAND 


87 


and when he finally came within view of the harbor 
the ship had disappeared. He stopped and glanced 
to the south, but no ship was in sight. This was a 
situation which had been considered, from the point 
of view of the departure of the vessel ; but where had 
it gone? 

He went to the shore, where Uraso’s party had 
been, and then, laboriously ascended the point be- 
yond, and from which he could get a clear view of the 
sea. There, far beyond, was the Pioneer^ sailing to 
the southeast under a strong breeze. 

He tore otf his jacket, and seizing a branch, began 
to wave it back and forth. The ship went on, and 
there was no indication that they noticed him. He 
remained thus for nearly a quarter of an hour, and 
then knew that he must follow the ship until he 
reached the next landing place. 

The trip along the shore was a most difficult one, 
as he could not follow the beach. Many of the rocks 
along the shore were licked by the waves, so that he 
had to take a course beyond the cliffs, and the land 
was not only rough, but numerous gulleys, or draws, 
as they are called, were washed out, making speed 
impossible. 

It required more than two hours to make the trip, 
and it was considerably after three when he hailed 
the boat from the shore, and hurriedly told the story 
of George’s capture. 

Uraso was not slow in gathering the men needed 
for the expedition, and when the guns and ammuni- 


88 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


tion were brought out all of the men actually begged 
to go along, but he knew that John would not sanction 
leaving the vessel without a crew. 


John and his scouts impatiently awaited the return 
of the men and during this time received the reports 
from the scouts as they came in. It was evident 
from the slight traces found that the band which cap- 
tured George had gone east. It was no doubt from 
some indication to this effect obtained by Muro, that 
induced him to take his course in that direction, also. 

All had departed but Muro. Four o^clock came, 
and then five, but neither Muro nor Uraso appeared. 
This did, indeed, look strange to John, who could, in 
a measure, account for Muro ’s non-appearance ; but 
he could not understand why Uraso did not come. 
It then occurred that after all Hasmo might not have 
been able to reach the landing before sailing time, 
and with this theory he consoled Harry, who was con- 
stantly on the alert, waiting for tidings. 


CHAPTER VII 


CAPTURE OF GEORGE BY THE NATIVES 

Let us now follow George. He went along the 
stream on its westerly side, while Harry was examin- 
ing the eastern shore. Coming to a little rivulet, 
which flowed into the main stream at this point, he 
passed alongside the projecting ledges of rock, that 
for the moment hid him from the view of Harry. 

Here he saw some peculiar rocks, and outcrop- 
pings, which reminded him so forcibly of the early 
days on Wonder Island, when the Professor so 
strongly impressed on them the value of investiga- 
Ltion. The gun was stood up, leaning against the 
I rocks, when he was seized by two strong arms, and a 
( hand placed over his mouth. 

In the struggle his hand touched the gun, and as 
his captor drew him back, he took the gun with him, 
and no effort was made to dispossess him of the 
weapon. He was carried along, one hand pinioned to 
his side, while the other hand carrying the gun was 
free, but he was unable to use it. 

He could not have been carried more than a hun- 
dred feet, before he heard John’s whistle. This 
startled his captors, for he now saw that there were 
'two burly specimens, almost wholly naked, and for 
the moment the hold on the imprisoned arm was re- 
laxed. 

sn 


90 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


Quick as a flasli lie drew up the gun and fired. 
This was the shot heard by John and Harry. The 
shot was such a surprise that the savages were almost 
paralyzed, and dropped their hold, but it was only 
for an instant. Realizing that the noise was made 
by George ^s weapon, and not caused by any of the 
boy’s companions, the nearest savage swung around 
viciously, and poor George was knocked unconscious 
by the blow. 

How long he remained in this state he did not 
know. When consciousness returned he was Ijdng 
on some tufted grass, and a half dozen vicious look- 
ing savages stood around him. Then he remembered 
the circumstances of his capture. 

He eyed them for a time, and then slowly sat up. 
One of the party had George’s field glasses slung 
around him, just as he himself had them on when 
captured. One of them was fondling the gun, but 
it was evident from the manner in which he held it 
that he had no knowledge of its uses. 

His cartridge belt graced the form of one of the 
other savages, and it was evident that they consid- 
ered the things thus taken more in the nature of orna- 
ments than as weapons. He slowly felt his pockets 
and was surprised that they had removed nothing. 

While he was rising to a sitting posture he could 
feel his revolver, and wondered why he had not been 
disarmed. A glimmer of joy shot through him. His 
hands were free, and he had no pain, except the sore 
feeling that was keen on the side of his head, and 
which was, no doubt, caused by the blow. 



“Opposite . . . stood a type of mountain deer like a sentinel” 


[See p. 82] 


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CAPTUEE OF GEORGE BY NATIVES 91 


Not a word was spoken by either. He hoped some- 
thing would be said and probably he would be able 
to recognize the language, as his two years’ experi- 
ence in Wonder Island gave him a fairly good under- 
standing of the native tongues. 

He pronounced some words, in the Saboro and also 
in the Iliya dialect, but they stared at each other, and 
answered in some words that were utterly unlike any- 
thing known on their own island. 

Soon, after a conversation among themselves, he 
was raised up and urged forward. The first thing 
that George did was to note the position of the sun, 
and he then stealthily drew out his watch. 

When the savages, who were closely watching him, 
saw the watch two of them pounced upon him, and in 
the struggle, one of them tore it from the chain. The 
holder of the chain threw it away, and attacked the 
one who had the watch. 

This was certainly an interesting struggle for. 
George to witness. He had his thoughts, however. 
Now was the time to make a strike for liberty, so he 
quietly moved his hand toward the revolver. George 
was not aware that a pair of eyes was intently watch- 
ing him while the struggle was going on. 

Before the hand reached the revolver, the savage 
leaped forward. His heart sank. The opportunity 
was lost. He dove down into the pocket and brought 
forth a knife, and it was hardly out of his pocket 
until the prying native had it in his hand. 

George gave a forced smile. The native saw it, 
and looked admiringly at the beautiful handle. He 

103 


92 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


turned it around and viewed it from every side, and 
then deftly drew a strand of material from his clout 
and, winding it around the knife, threw the loop of 
the strand over his head. 

This, too, then, was an ornament! They did not 
know the uses of the knife. George kept up the 
smile, and soon the savage smiled in return. This 
was a good beginning, surely! But what surprised 
him most of all was the perfectly natural manner in 
which the defeated party in the contest after the 
watch took his loss. 

The victor fashioned it as a pendant, and the other 
looked calmly on while his opponent admired it. 
There was not a particle of resentment in the loser. 

George did not show any alarm to the savages, 
although it would be too much to say that he was en- 
tirely at ease. The instructions received from John, 
the experiences of Tom and Ralph when they were 
captured, were lessons for him, so, when the savages 
smiled back at him he pointed to the knife, and made 
motions as though he intended to open the blade. 

All savages are curious. Many of them have this 
trait developed to a remarkable degree. George ^s ] 
motions attracted the man. Then he leaned forward, 
and removed the knife from the loop. He held it up, 
exactly like a magician would exhibit some article 
that he intended should disappear. 

Then, as the savage ^s mouth was now open, he in- 
serted his thumb nail into the crease of the large l 
knife, and opened the blade. Then he extended out i 
his hand, and offered the open knife to the savage. 


CAPTURE OF GEORGE BY NATIVES 93 


To say that he was merely surprised is putting it 
mildly. He could not possibly open his eyes wider, 
and instead of taking it, drew back. Then George 
quickly closed the blade again, and otfered it in that 
way, and he was induced to slowly take it back, while 
he glanced at George suspiciously. 

The burly individual who carried the field glass 
was then approached by George. The latter took 
the glasses and put them to his eyes. At this act 
the savages set up a whoop, and the glass was 
snatched from him. Evidently they thought it was 
something like the gun. 

George smiled, and again made the motion, as 
though he desired to take the glass. The savage 
took the loop from his neck, and handed the instru- 
ment to George. The latter put it to his eyes and 
pointed them to the east, carefully adjusting them to 
get the proper focus. 

To his surprise he saw the evidences of a village 
in the far distant landscape, and, beyond it, the sea. 
What a discovery this was, indeed ! . 

The glasses were then presented to the burly sav- 
age, who now claimed its ownership, and tried to 
induce him to look through it. In this George finally 
succeeded, and after he saw the effect of the distant 
landscape, the attitude of the man changed, and he 
looked on George with a species of admiration and 
wonderment. 

George walked about them, in the most careless 
manner imaginable, but they never took their eyes 
from him. He smiled at them, again took the knife 


94 ADVENTUKES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


and performed the feat over and over again, and 
then instructed the savage how to do it. 

Suddenly he thought of the match safe. A^Tiat a 
jolly trick that would be to spring on them. But it 
would be more effective at night, he reflected, and so 
he refrained from taking it out. It was evident, 
however, that he was making a hit of some kind. 
Whether it would aid him in escaping he did not 
know, but he tried every means possible to ingrati- 
ate himself, and to show that he had no fear. 

The view of the village which he had accidentally 
discovered impressed itself on him with startling 
force. If he once reached the village escape would 
be difficult, and consequently he viewed the searching 
eyes of his captors with great uneasiness. 

This was evident by the cat-like action of the one 
who got the knife. If he made the slightest move of 
his hands, he could see the eyes following them. 
Once he stumbled as they were marching along. 
This was purposely done, in the hope that during the 
time he was recovering his erect position he could 
draw the revolver. 

He had his course of action all planned out. He 
had no desire to kill, and he made up his mind that 
he would first cover them and then by motions wave 
them away, but it would be necessary to depend upon 
mimicry for this. 

He had learned from John that savages are 
naturally the most expert pantomimists, and are able i; 
to express many things by gestures, this faculty hav- j 
ing been made the more acute because the different I 


CAPTURE OF GEORGE BY NATIVES 95 


tribes are frequently brought into contact without 
any connecting link in the dialects or languages. 

If they refused, or made any attempt to seize him, 
he would then shoot the leader, and thus strike terror 
into the others. But while he was thus arranging 
all the details in his mind, he was startled at seeing 
a whole group of savages leap from the side of the 
ill-defined path, which they were now traveling, and 
they speedily surrounded the captor and captive. 

Then began a bedlam of explanations as they 
crowded around George. Some came up and felt his 
arms, and other portions of his body. He smiled 
meanwhile. It was the only thing he could do, and 
he knew it would be useless to look troubled. 

The next moment the visitors were examining the 
glass, the cartridge belt, the knife and the watch, and 
George was, temporarily forgotten, although sur- 
rounded so that he could not possibly force his way 
through. 

He thought it a remarkable thing that they should 
thus hold and watch him with such tenacity. While 
thus discussing him, a new party appeared, and now 
for the first time there was an attempt to show def- 
erence. 

The leader of the party was the most powerful 
savage George had ever seen. Uraso was a power- 
ful warrior, and Chum was also noted for his 
strength, but it seemed that the man now coming up 
must be a giant. Some of the immediate party 
rushed up to him, and after making a respectful bow, 
told him of the capture. 


96 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


He approached with dignity, and those around 
George moved away. 

Without a moment’s hesitation George moved 
toward the Chief, and when ten feet away, he 
stopped, straightened himself erect, and with a most 
courtly bow smiled as he recovered his position. 

The strong and resolute manner in which this was 
done was really a cause for marvel in the savage. 
He looked at his people, and spoke a few words, and 
those who had been his guards came forward most 
deferentially, and, so far as George could under- 
stand, told of the circumstances surrounding his cap- 
ture. 

But there was one thing which struck George as a 
peculiar thing. The three men who had participated 
in the loot of his valuables did not exhibit them while 
talking to the Chief. 

There was a long palaver, and many gestures in- 
dulged in. The question occurred to him; What 
had become of the articles which they had taken? 
Did they purposely hide them? 

At the close of the conversation two of the Chief’s 
immediate associates came forward, and began to in- 
vestigate his belongings. The first thing they 
brought out was the revolver, and at this George was 
almost on the point of breaking down. Then he grew 
bitter. 

The silver match box was the next to attract the 
attention of the searchers ; and so they went througli 
from one pocket to the other in the most approved 
style. 


CAPTURE OF GEORGE BY NATIVES 97 


These were laid before the Chief who grunted his 
approval at the different things, and his admiration, 
judging from the character of his remarks, was un- 
bounded at the silver-plated revolver. 

From the curious way in which he handled it 
George was alarmed. It was an automatic, and if 
the Chief once pulled the trigger there would be 
trouble for some one. George held up a warning 
hand, and the Chief looked up from the weapon. 

The only thing he could do was to point to the 
revolver, and vigorously shake his head. The Chief 
looked around as though inquiring the meaning of 
such a sign. He was not interfered with as he 
walked up to the savage, and held out his hand. The 
Chief handed him the weapon. 

Then, picking up a leaf, he motioned to one near 
him to place it on the side of a tree. At a word from 
the Chief the man did so, but George motioned to him 
to carry it still further away. He took deliberate 
aim, and thanks to his long and regular practice, the 
leaf received the impress of the bullet, while the sav- 
ages jumped in all directions at the report. 

Only the Chief remained impassive. He never 
moved, but when the leaf was brought to him, he 
looked on the youth with a kindly smile. George was 
quick to notice this. He again walked over to the 
* Chief, and placed the weapon in his hand, and 
guided his finger to the trigger, while at the same 
time holding up his hand so as to sight it. 

This time the shot was directed to the nearest tree. 
The savages scurried to give them room. When the 


98 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


Chief pulled the trigger and the discharge followed, 
George caught him by the arm, and took him to the 
tree, pointing out the hole made by the bullet. 

There was a wondering look on the Chief’s face. 
He looked at the weapon, and then at the hole. 
There was a question in the peculiar guttural sounds 
of his language, which slowly came from his lips. 
Evidently the Chief wanted to know something. 

Ah! he knew what it was. What made the hole? 
George took the weapon, and extracted one of the 
bullets, and then pointed to the hole in the tree. It 
was plain that even this did not satisfy him. Better 
still ; why not dig out the bullet ; and as he thought of 
it he instinctively reached in his pocket for the knife. 

Then he remembered. One of his captors had it. 
Without any ceremony he walked over to the man 
who had it, and by motions indicated that he wanted 
the knife. The savage was mute. He boldly 
searched the folds of the rude clout, and without a 
protest on the part of the savage he brought forth the 
coveted knife. 

This action was indeed a surprise to the Chief. A 
frown gathered on the Chief’s face. George saw it, 
and really trembled for the first time, as he saw the 
eyes of the Giant riveted on the knife, and then 
turned to the culprit. The latter fell to the ground, 
and muttered something, and instantly the two others 
were also seized, as they uncovered the other belong- 
ings and laid them before the Chief. 

George looked on the scene with genuine regret. 
The culprits were led away, and he speculated on 


CAPTURE OF GEORGE BY NATIVES 99 


their fate. But the Chief’s eyes immediately re- 
turned to the hole in the tree, while the gaze of the 
others rested on the cartridges, the watch and the 
field glasses. The knife was in George’s hand, and 
he slowly opened it whereat the appearance of the 
blade startled the Chief. He was all eagerness now, 
so George closed the blade and opened it again, and 
then cut a circle around the bullet hole and chipped 
the wood away. 

There was the bullet, and he slowly drew it forth, 
a shapeless bit of lead. When he had deposited it in 
the Chief’s hand, he laid one of the cartridges along- 
side, and also showed the empty shell. Then he 
quietly laid the closed knife in the Chief’s hand and 
stood back with his arms folded, as though he owned 
the entire Island. 

I If the action of the Chief counted for anything the 
I boy did have everything in sight. The Chief re- 
turned the revolver to George, and then began to 
; examine the articles before him. The most interest- 
ing appeared to be the cartridge belt. He looked at 
the revolver and cartridges, and then turned over the 
. revolver buUet and shell which George had exhibited. 

It was now plain that the Chief could not under- 
stand the use of the large cartridges. George’s 
I mind was working by this time. He did not recall 
that the gun was in evidence at any time after they 
; met the first crowd on the road. 

The Chief pointed to the cartridges, and George 
i looked toward the group which had captured him. 
This was enough for the wily savage. A stern com- 


100 ADVENTUKES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


mand was issued, and in an incredible short space of 
time the gun appeared. Where it could have been 
hidden was a marvel. Certainly these people must 
be adepts in the art of concealment. 

The Chief handled the gun in a most awkward 
fashion and George pohtely took it from his hand, 
and after glancing about for a moment, saw a bird 
on a branch. This he brought down, upon which one 
of the men ran forward, picked it up and brought 
it to the Chief. After this the weapon was turned 
over to him, and the peculiar chuckle that followed 
was, undoubtedly, the savage’s way of expressing 
delight. 

One of the attendants then came forward at the 
order of the Chief, who, after the articles were gath- 
ered up, indicated to George that he should follow, 
and turned toward the village. George did not re- 
gard the prerogatives of royalty, but he took up a 
most democratic position by the side of the Chief, 
to which the latter did not object. 

It required nearly an hour before they reached the 
village. Women and children, and boys his own age 
were in evidence everywhere. They came out of the 
huts and followed the procession, on the way to the 
Chief’s quarters. 

Singularly George did not now feel the slightest 
bit of fear. On the other hand, there was confidence, 
a sort of assurance that he could not express. This 
feeling came to him, not so much from the general 
demeanor of the Chief, as on account of the one act, 
namely, the return to him of the revolver. 


CAPTURE OF GEORGE BY NATIVES 101 


The Chief’s home was an entirely ditferent sort of 
atfair from the other dwellings. It was noted that 
the homes of the ordinary people were made singu- 
larly like those of the tribes on Wonder Island, usu- 
ally of twigs braided and brought together at the 
upper end so as to form cone-like enclosures, and all 
were covered with clay, so as to keep out the rains. 

Outside of these houses appeared to be the sleep- 
ing quarters, and a glance at some of them impressed 
George as being exceedingly filthy. The houses 
were intended only for the rainy season, apparently, 
as was the custom in many places on their own 
island. 

But the Chief’s dwelling was a most pretentious 
atfair, judged by the surrounding homes. It had a 
large interior court, without a roof, but the immedi- 
ate dwelling had four or more rooms. The Chief 
walked through one room, and entered the court, 
where George was embarrassed to see two girls, and 
several boys, together with three women, all of whom 
stared at him, the girls giggling exactly as he had 
seen them do at home. 

The articles taken from him were then deposited 
upon the floor, and the Chief reclined on a sort of 
raised couch. George glanced around and the first 
thing that his eyes met was a chair, in one corner of 
the room, and then some articles that he knew could 
not have been made on the island. 

This was his introduction to the home of the Chief. 
He then fell to wondering how it would be possible 
to talk and tell him about his friends. 


CHAPTEE VIII 


FIGHT OF THE NATIVES FOR THE TRINKETS 

Scouting in an unknown country, with assurances 
that foes may be in ambush at every turn, is not a 
rapid way of marching. Ordinarily, in the open 
road, a man will walk three or four miles an hour. 
But in a forest, where every tree may conceal a foe, 
it is quite different. 

Muro was an expert in scouting work. He had 
had years of experience in this sort of life, and, 
moreover, was a chief of one of the most powerful 
tribes on the island. 

He and his companion went directly east, in the 
most stealthy fashion, and, a half mile beyond they 
circled to the south, next swinging around to the 
north, so as to take in as wide a sweep as possible. 

Before dark they obtained the first real traces of 
the tramp of feet, and as it was now too late to en- 
able them to follow up the trail they went back to- 
ward the scene of the capture, so that they might 
thus be able to follow the trail easily the next morn- 
ing. 

It was very dark when they crept in and were 
halted by the sentries which John had posted. 
Harry was the first to greet Muro. “Have you 
found anything r’ 


102 


FIGHT OF NATIVES FOR TRINKETS 103 


Yes/^ answered Muro. We know the direction 
they have gone. In the morning we can go on from 
the place where we discovered the trail.’’ 

‘HIow far is it from here!” 

‘‘More than ten miles.” 

The distance mentioned was in itself sufficient evi- 
dence that Muro had not wasted time. 

They spent the remaining hours of the evening 
awaiting further news and it was fully ten o’clock 
before the sentry to the south reported the probable 
approach of Uraso. Harry leaped out from the 
circle, and followed the sentry. It was, indeed, 
Uraso who had been reporter. 

“Tell me all about it,” he requested, and Harry, 
with a voice full of pathos, told him how it happened. 

; When he had finished, Uraso said : 

“I was told by my father that somewhere here in 
the seas was an island where were found most ter- 
I rible people, who killed every one they captured. I 
hope this is not the place.” And Uraso did not say 
this to excite Harry’s fears, but, like many natives, 
he was frank, and open in his speech. 

“I hope there will be no trouble,” was Harry’s 
' response. 

“We need not worry about George, ’ ’ added Uraso. 

; ‘ ‘ The way that he was taken shows that they are tak- 
ing him to the Chief. A boy like George would be 
i likely to interest the Chief, at first for a time, and 
* time is all we want. ’ ’ 

; “I am glad you have the same opinion as John,” 
i answered Harry. 


104 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


John, Muro and Uraso held a conference that 
night. As a result Harry was comforted to know 
and feel that George was safe, and that within a 
day or two at most, they would be able to come up 
with the tribe. 

The entire party now numbered thirty-five, all well 
armed. In the morning, as soon as it was light 
enough to see they were up, and after a quick break- 
fast Muro directed them along the trail made the 
night before, and the spot where Muro found the 
trace was reached about nine o’clock. 

John and his party now spread out so as to take 
in a wide expanse, and they marched toward the east 
for fully two hours. Sometimes all traces would be 
lost, and then there would be a halt and a search, and 
the native wit of the scouts was generally acute 
enough to recover the trail. 

During these periodical searches, one of the men 
bounded forward with a cry, as he held up a hand in 
which something was swinging. 

As usual Harry was there like a shot. ‘‘That is 
George’s chain,” he cried out. 

“Where did you find this!” asked John. 

The scout rushed over to the place, and all fol- 
lowed. The ground about plainly showed the evi- 
dences of the struggle where George’s captors fought 
for the possession of the watch. 

The trail was beginning to get warm. It was read- 
ily followed for several miles, and then disappeared, 
but after patient hunting it came to light, and shortly 


FIGHT OF NATIVES FOR TRINKETS 105 


after noon the spot was reached where the Chief 
came on the scene, and the appearance of the ground 
indicated that there must have been a large number 
in the party. 

Here was an occasion where one great quality of 
many savage tribes stands out so prominently, and 
that is in determining the number of their enemies by 
the foot prints. Hundreds of imprints on the soil, 
crossing and recrossing each other, will to the un- 
trained seem a hopeless riddle. 

On one occasion on Wonder Island, John stated 
that one of a party they were trailing, was wounded 
in one of his legs. The explanation was simple: 
The pressure of the foot in the soil was less on the 
lame than on the sound leg, and the stride was un- 
even. 

But the scouts had to decipher the peculiar im- 
print of each foot, and then compare it with all the 
others, in turn. 

could tell the difference in the shape of a shoe 
from another,^’ said Harry, ‘^but I do not see how it 
is possible to tell one foot print from another. 

‘‘How do you distinguish people?^’ asked John. 

“Well, usually, by their faces.’’ 

“Quite true. Now feet are just as different as 
faces are. But there are other ways by which we 
recognize people.” 

I “Yes,” was the response. “I can tell who many 
i people are at distances so great that I cannot see 
; their faces.” 


106 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


^^How do you do thatT^^ 

‘‘By the way they walk, by their size, or by some 
action that seems to be peculiar to them. ^ ’ 

“The observations are correct,’’ answered John. 
“At the same time, if all the men you knew hap- 
pened to be in a crowd, and moving around among 
each other, you would be able to recognize and place 
each without any difficulty; is not that truef” 

“Yes; and I think I understand the trend of your 
remark now. ’ ’ 

“And what is that!” 

“You mean to say that if the scouts are able to 
read, or to become acquainted with the foot prints, 
they can read them as readily as I would read the 
faces of my friends.” 

“That is the exact inference I wish to draw.” 

“Well, I want to see that done,” and Harry fol- 
lowed up Uraso, and watched Muro, and the most in- 
telligent of the scouts, while they carefully stepped 
over the ground, each being careful while doing so 
to step in the foot marks of the preceding scout. 

“That is a curious thing to do,” he remarked, as 
he turned to John. 

“What is that!” the latter asked. 

“Stepping in the tracks made by the leader.” 

“That is for the purpose of keeping the surface 
of the ground absolutely the same as the tribe left 
it.” 

“Well the boys seem to understand detective work 
pretty well.” 

All of them laughea at this complimentary allu- 


FIGHT OF NATIVES FOE TRINKETS 107 


sion, as it must be understood that all the scouts 
taken from the island had learned to speak the Eng- 
lish language, and some of them, like Uraso, were ex- 
ceptionally skilled. 

When the different ones had gone over the ground 
thoroughly, John asked the opinion of the searchers. 

^^From my count there must have been twenty- 
four,’’ remarked Uraso. 

Muro smiled, as he said: ‘‘Uraso is mistaken, 
there are twenty-five.” Uraso was not at all per- 
turbed, but walked over to the surveyed plot and 
said: “The most prominent one is the fellow with 
the spreading toes. See! here is his left foot. See 
that broad foot is all around the place. This broad 
foot with a toe missing, is another fellow ; and here 
are two with rather long feet, you can see them all 
about, and they are, no doubt, active fellows. ’ ’ 

“Well, that is picking them out plainly enough,” 
remarked Harry. 

“But,” continued Uraso, “I want you to look at 
this foot. It is the largest I ever saw.” 

“I am satisfied that fellow is the Chief,” remarked 
Muro. 

“There is evidence of that here too,” said Uraso, 
as Muro nodded his head. 

Harry looked on in bewilderment. “Assuredly 
that is something new. How do you know thaiV^ he 
asked. 

“The best indication is,” said Uraso, “that the 
fellow with the big feet does very little walking, and 
all the other fellows have danced about him.” 

104 


108 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


Harry laughed, and was satisfied. ‘ ‘ That was cer- 
tainly clever, he remarked. ‘‘But why shouldnT 
they be clever. These boys are the finest and brav- 
est in the world,’’ and Uraso and Muro smiled and 
were happy at this encomium of the boy they all 
loved so much. 

‘ ‘ The last foot I have counted is that little sawed- 
otf sample that has danced all around the edge ; see 
it here, and here?” 

Muro walked forward, and, stooping down, pointed 
to the imprint of a shoe, said: “That is our boy’s 
shoe. ’ ’ 

Uraso laughed, as he admitted neglecting George’s 
presence in the crowd of prints. “But I have found 
something else. George has had an interview with 
the Chief. He has been making some explanations 
to the Chief about his revolver. ’ ’ 

J ohn smiled, and, kept his eye on a tree to the 
right. 

“And how do you know that?” asked Harry. 

Uraso walked over to the tree, after picking up 
something, and pointed to a cut-out in the side of the 
tree. It was the mark of the bullet, and the circular 
cut which George had made that John had observed, 
and which had been noticed by Uraso and Muro. 

“The scene here looks very promising to me,” said 
John. 

“Yes, it is better and better,” remarked Muro. 

“But you haven’t told us yet, how you know that 
George was interviewing the Chief.” 

“Come here and I will show you. Now look 


FIGHT OF NATIVES FOR TRINKETS 109 


closely at the foot prints of George. Then observe 
the indications as to the attitude of the Chief. 
George goes up to the Chief. They turn around. 
Here is a shell. Beyond is the tree where they had 
the mark, and here are the tracks of the Chief and 
George as they go up to the tree. ’ ’ 

Harry was now convinced. It must be said, how- 
ever, that many of the marks made were so illy-de- 
fined, that it required extraordinary vision to ob- 
serve them, and this is what Harry marveled at. 

‘‘What you say only proves the value of minute 
observation,’’ remarked John. “Those who are not 
accustomed to see these things, can not detect what 
are very plain markings. Sometimes a slightly torn 
leaf, under certain conditions, will tell a story in it- 
self, — just such a commonplace and ordinary thing 
as a ruptured leaf.” 

The consensus of opinion was that there were fully 
twenty-five in the party counting George, and it is 
remarkable that when the matter was afterwards 
investigated it was found that Uraso’s count was 
right. 

There were six in the party which took George, 
twelve who surrounded the party before the Chief 
arrived, and five more were with him when he came 
up. 

Another consultation was held. John remarked: 
“I am of the opinion that the people who have cap- 
tured George are not at all bad, or vindictive. 
Therefore we must exercise care and not needlessly 
injure any of them. I need not say that it is our 


110 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


purpose here to aid the people, to make friends of 
them, and not enemies/’ 

‘^That is in accordance with our wish,” said 
Uraso, with the approval of all present. 

^‘It is perfectly evident that these people, in tak- 
ing George, did what most people in a savage condi- 
tion would do. The great and overshadowing trait 
in humanity is to acquire something. It is just pos- 
sible that the cartridge belt, or the field glasses, or 
the buttons on his coat were of more importance to 
them than George himself.” 

‘‘Then you mean they had to get George to get 
the buttons,” said Harry, laughing in his relief. 

“Of course,” answered John, and Muro laughed 
aloud, as he recalled his first experiences with the 
boys. 

“John has hit upon the very thing which is at the 
bottom of the whole business. All we wanted was 
to get the trinket, and the prisoner belonged to the 
Chief.” 

“Or to the Krishnos,” remarked Muro. 

“Well we might as well go on if we can find the 
trail,” remarked John. 

“Yes, it is plain enough now,” answered one of 
them. 

“But let us exercise caution,” remarked John. 
“Move along slowly and keep a sharp lookout on our 
flanks.” 

Harry was walking by the side of Uraso. There 
had always been a warm friendship between the two. 
Lolo, Uraso ’s favorite son, was Harry’s age, and the 


FIGHT OF NATIVES FOR TRINKETS 111 


two were companions, and this was a source of great 
joy to the Chief, for Uraso was the head man of the 
Osagas, and one of the most progressive of all the 
prominent men. 

Harry was dangling the chain which had been 
found in the morning. have been wondering why 
he dropped this*?^’ he asked. 

have an idea that it was lost in the fight for 
the possession of the watch. 

‘ ‘ The fight ? Why did they have a fight 1 ’ 

‘‘Well, the ground where the chain was found 
looked very much like it. ^ ’ 

“I don’t see why the fellows don’t agree to divide 
up things properly when they get them, instead of 
scrambling for them in that way?” 

“You can see it is perfectly natural for them to 
fight for it under the circumstances. They do not 
understand anything but power.” 

“I should think the loser would be resentful, and 
try to even it up on the other fellow,” remarked 
Harry. 

“On the other hand, the moment the stronger fel- 
low wins, that is the end of the dispute. The best 
one won. In his creed there is no other argument. 
That is the savage’s religion. You people have told 
us differently. The Professor has often said ; 
‘There is only this difference between us, with you, 
might is right; with us right is might.’ ” 

“Well, what do you really think about it now?” 
asked Harry. 

Uraso did not smile, as he remarked somewhat 


112 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


sadly ; ‘ ^ It took me a long time to understand that. 
How could right be might 1 At first it looked foolish, 
and Muro and I talked it over many times. Then 
Oma, and Tastoa and Oroto, the other Chiefs, spoke 
to me about it. But while I did not understand it I 
had faith in the Professor. 

^‘Then we went to Unity, and built the town, and 
the people began to go there, and when we saw the 
Professor, and the way he treated every one, never 
doing a wrong to anybody, we could not believe that 
he was sane. But everywhere we went we heard 
people talking about him, and the way he acted, and 
we saw all the white people do the same as the Pro- 
fessor did, we noticed that no one would dare say a 
word against the Professor, or John. 

■ ‘We marveled at that. The Professor went out 
among the people of all the tribes, and never carried 
a weapon of any kind. But no one would have dared 
to injure him. If a man had even attempted to in- 
jure him the people would have torn him to pieces. 
Then I understood. Right was and is Might, but it 
takes a savage a long time to understand it, and he 
must learn it from something practical that comes to 
him in every day life ; he will never know it in any 
other way.’’ 

Harry walked on in silence. 


CHAPTER IX 


THE GIANT CHIEF AND HIS PALACE 

We must now return to George and see how he 
fared during the first night of his captivity. After 
the Chief had seated himself, and had begun to ex- 
amine the articles taken from George, the latter had 
an opportunity to examine the surroundings more 
closely. 

The Chief made no remarks to him, nor did he ask 
him to be seated. At the moment he entered the 
room he noticed the chair. As the Chief did not pay 
any attention to him after they entered, George 
walked over and deliberately sat down on it. 

The two attendants who carried in the articles, 
stared at him, and the women and children, partic- 
ularly the latter, seemed to be paralyzed at his at- 
titude seated in the chair. It was covered with dust, 
an evidence that it was never- used for the purposes 
of a seat. On reflection, he thought that must be 
the reason they looked at him so queerly. 

The Chief, however, gave no indication that his act 
was a rude or questionable one. He tried on the 
cartridge belt, but it was far too short for his corpu- 
lent body, and George could hardly repress a laugh, 
as he noticed the attempt to adjust it. 

The field glasses came in for a share of attention, 
then the silver match box, and the women craned 

113 


114 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


their heads forward, as it glittered. The Chief held 
it off from his ^yes, so he could properly view it; 
just as George had often seen women do in trying to 
match articles. 

All the while the Chief was emitting grunts betok- 
ening pleasure and satisfaction. The adjusting 
screw on the field glass next attracted his attention. 
The turning moved the barrels in and out, and this 
was, in all probability, the most remarkable thing he 
ever saw. 

George could stand it no longer. He left his seat, 
the younger children shrinking back as he arose, and 
quietly walked to the Chief, and sat down in front 
of him. As he did so he pointed to the match safe 
which the Chief held in his left hand. 

The latter did not resist the attempt to take it, but 
looked on wonderingly as George pressed the point, 
and the lid flew open. Then, taking one of the 
matches from the receptacle, he held the box in one 
hand, exhibited the match in the other, for a moment, 
and then drew the match across the box, and ignited 
it. 

The Chief actually drew in a breath that was audi- 
ble everywhere in that neighborhood. He nodded 
with approval. Harry closed the box and handed it 
back; he then directed the Chief’s attention to the 
little point, and pressed it, when the lid again flew 
open. 

This time the Chief closed it, and he pressed the 
point. The success of the experiment was so great 
that he eventually called his wife to witness it, for 


GIANT CHIEF AND HIS PALACE 115 


she came over, while he performed the miraculous 
thing. 

He took out a match. Its use was just as great 
a mystery. He was taught just what to do, and the 
primitive man sat there and struck the matches, one 
after the other, in the greatest delight. What 
amused George more than anything else was, that 
every time a match was struck, he closed the box, 
and then opened it before extracting another. 

George noted the imitative quality so marked in 
all savages. It did not, apparently, occur to him 
that he could strike two matches without the lid fly- 
ing open in the period intervening the two opera- 
tions. 

It was now growing dark, and soon an attendant 
came in with several curiously-arranged lights, made 
from some sort of weed or vegetation, the smoke of 
which appeared to be most agreeable. From an ad- 
joining room, an appetizing odor reached George 
and, staring in that direction, the Chief noticed the 
boy’s expectant attitude. 

The Chief arose, his mighty frame towering above 
the rest, and a command was given. Almost im- 
mediately two servitors came through the opening, 
one of them carrying a large bowl of the most sa- 
vory stew. The bowl was not of native manufacture, 
and George, observing this, suddenly remembered 
what John had said, that the Chief was always sure 
to get the best and most valuable parts of the wreck- 
ages along the shore, and he felt sure that this was 
salvage from some shipwreck. 


116 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


The Chief smiled, as the bowl was set before him. 
It was smoking hot, and George smiled back as he 
noticed the friendly look, and saw that the Chief ^s 
wife graciously arranged the accompanying vege- 
tables, although he had no idea what the latter were. 

A second attendant brought pointed sticks, and 
two paddle-shaped blades. The Chief without cere- 
mony dived into the mess and speared a piece of the 
meat, and waved it to and fro, to cool it. Here was 
an opportunity to follow the example thus set, and 
George was glad to take the hint. 

He didn’t look around to inquire for a plate, nor 
did he ask for a napkin. The meat was good, the 
vegetables appetizing, and the conversation lagged 
so much that there was no chance for unseasonable 
interruptions during the meal. 

If George had never before that hour witnessed 
a savage eat, he would have been mortified at the 
small amount he himself was capable of putting 
away, when he compared the relative amounts con- 
sumed. He was of the opinion, before they began, 
that the bowl was intended for the whole family, but 
the Chief ate all of it, except the small part that 
George disposed of in the meantime. 

But he was perfectly content. He ate until he 
could eat no more, and then to his extreme disgust, 
a wooden platter of fruit was set before them. 
Bananas were the only things he recognized. A 
small pear-shaped fruit attracted him, and then an 
egg-shaped, brown-colored fruit, with a sweet, strong 
perfume, was among the varieties. 


GIANT CHIEF AND HIS PALACE 117 


The Chief was graciousness itself, exhibiting not 
one trait of selfishness, as he forced the fruit on 
George. When the Chief had finished the 'fruit 
George was relieved, but uncomfortable. He had 
eaten beyond his capacity. The articles containing 
the food were removed, and the Chief, who, during 
this time, was in a reclining position, slowly sank 
down, and was soon asleep. 

The family sat around for a time, and then all 
slowly disappeared and he could hear the jumble of 
voices in the adjoining apartment, as they were un- 
doubtedly engaged in their meal. 

What a peculiar position to be placed in. Alone 
with the sleeping savage ! Still, he did not seem to 
be so very savage. There was no one in sight. He 
arose and walked toward the opening. Not even a 
guard prevented him from leaving. 

He stepped out. He still had his revolver, but that 
was all. Now was the time to effect his escape. He 
turned the corner of the main structure, and there 
stood one of the Chief’s girls, the one who had at- 
tracted George’s attention when he was first ushered 
into the palace, as George named the place in his 
mind. 

As this girl will have an important place in re- 
citing this history, it may be well to describe her. 
She was about the height of George, with a much 
lighter skin than the majority of those whom he had 
seen thus far. Her eyes were large and beautiful, 
and while her hair, intensely black and very profuse, 
was not at all kinky. It should be said that the sav- 


118 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


ages on the island, Hke those on Wonder Island, 
while dark, did not have cnrly hair of the Ethiopian, 
so that they were not of the negroid type but more 
nearly allied to the Malay family. 

She smiled, and George, abashed for the moment, 
went up to her, and she did not at all shrink from 
him. Now that he had made the advance he was at 
a loss what to do. The only thing that both perfectly 
understood, was to smile, and smile they did. 

But why not say something. He tried it, and 
those great eyes appeared to open still wider. 
George turned and waved his hand, and affrighted, 
apparently, she darted into the side entrance. The 
darkness prevented him from seeing what was there, 
and he dared not enter. The moon was shining 
brightly. 

The desire to escape again took possession of him. 
But why try to escape? He felt sure the Chief meant 
no harm, and then he wandered to the other side of 
the building, and there lay the great ocean, the shore 
of which was not a thousand feet away. 

He sat down on a log, and pondered and, feeling 
fatigued from the unusual efforts of the day, he lay 
down for a nap. How long he remained there it was 
impossible to tell, for when he awoke, he found him- 
self by the side of the trunk, and near him two of 
the body guard who accompanied the Chief the day 
before. 

He sat up, rubbed his eyes, arose, and without any 
suggestion or command on the part of the watchers, 
marched back to the Chief ^s palace, and entered the 


GIANT CHIEF AND HIS ‘‘PALACE’^ 119 


room to see the latter awake and reclining at his 
place on the floor. 

He offered a salutation to George, and the latter 
smiled and bowed graciously. One of the attendants 
touched him on the arm, and he was led to a room, 
adjoining the court ; but there was no door, by means 
of which he could close the room, nor did he discover 
a window, or anything suggesting an opening at the 
other side of the apartment. 

A delightful odor came from some kind of grass 
which was piled in one corner. He examined it, and 
concluded that it had been placed there for his par- 
ticular benefit. This was indeed a thoughtful thing 
on the Chief’s part. They were making a home for 
him, that was evident. 

But he was too tired to reflect long on these things. 
Without removing his clothes he threw himself down 
on the sweet, clean grass, and he knew no more until, 
when the morning sun flooded the court, he could peer 
out, and see the family moving to and fro, but the 
Chief was nowhere in sight. 

While they had not ventured to tell him what was 
just the correct thing to do, he walked out, and then 
wandered to the open portal at the front. No one 
seemed to heed him. He walked down toward the 
ocean, and saw some women carrying water in curi- 
ously-shaped gourds. 

He followed the path, which led to a spring; de- 
licious, cool and refreshing. Then he bathed his 
face, and washed his hands. But he missed the soap. 
He had not, however, forgotten the early days on 


120 ADVENTUKES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


Wonder Island, when the Professor found the soap 
tree. 

He glanced around. There, sure enough, was the 
identical bush, and breaking off several twigs, the 
small branches were crushed up together with the 
leaves, and with these he returned to the brook and 
had a good soap wash. 

This peculiar action was witnessed by some of the 
women, and the tale was quickly told, and became 
current in the village. When George visited the 
same spot, the bush had entirely disappeared. 

The Chief had not returned when he went back, 
but his breakfast was ready, and the maiden with 
the great round eyes, and the mother, evidently, 
waited on him. 

George looked toward the Chief ^s place. She un- 
derstood, and pointed to the west. He mused awhile. 
What could she mean? It must not be supposed that 
during all this time George was not thinking of 
Harry, and John, and the boys who came over with 
them on this trip. 

They always called each other ‘‘boys.^’ All the 
natives on Wonder Island were boys to them, and it 
was amusing to hear them say the word in return. 
They were all boys, Uraso, and Muro, as well; all 
but the Professor, John and Blakely. 

When George went out after breakfast he was sur- 
prised to note the absence of the men. No one but 
women and children were about. Then the truth 
flashed on him. The Chief had gone out, on hearing 
of the approach of John and his party. 


GIANT CHIEF AND HIS PALACE 121 


He rushed out toward the western path that led 
from the village, and he had not gone three hundred 
yards before the men, all armed with spears, came 
back, with the Chief at their head. All were in con- 
sternation. 

George knew what this meant now. He held up 
his hand as they hurriedly moved toward him, and 
pointed to the west. He did this smiling to assure 
him of the friendly character of the visit. The 
Chief stopped. George moved through the group 
and beckoned the Chief to follow. 

He hesitated but a moment, and then gave the nec- 
essary command. Coming through the forest be- 
yond were John and the ^‘Boys.’^ When they were 
still too far for hailing distance George raised his 
hat and waved it. 

When John and his party were still a hundred 
yards away, they stopped at the unusual sight. 
Meanwhile George and the Chief moved on. Harry 
could not restrain himself, and broke from the party, 
in his mad rush to welcome George. 

^^Bow, Harry; bow; he is a dandy Chief. 

Harry obediently made a gracious bow, and the 
Chief acknowledged the salute. 

All that Harry could say, was : “Oh, George!^’ 

John and the company came up, and George 
rushed to John, as he said: “I have had the nicest 
time in the world, but I am afraid the Chief does 
not know whether you are friends or enemies. ’ ’ 

John turned to the men, and quietly said: “This 
man is a friend, and we must treat him as a Chief. 


122 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


All give him a respectful greeting. The Chief stood 
still, as all the warriors ranged themselves in front 
and all bowed low, to the obvious relief of the savage. 

Then John brought Uraso and Muro forward, and 
by well timed gestures indicated to the Chief that 
they were also Chiefs, and he instantly showed that 
he recognized the pantomimic language, and deferen- 
tially bowed, as he had seen George do. 

Uraso stepped forward and went up to the burly 
form, and pressed his nose against his nose. Then, 
he spoke a few words. The Chief looked at him for 
a moment, and then answered. Muro was not slow 
to follow the example, and he also addressed the 
Chief. 

When Uraso turned and took John’s hand and in 
a dialect, which both seemed to understand, he told 
about John and the boys, the Chief turned to his 
men and said a dozen words, which were instantly 
recognized by Uraso and Muro. They smiled. 

‘‘What did he say?” asked George. 

“He told them to go to the village and prepare 
food.” 

All but a half dozen of the immediate followers of 
the Chief turned and darted back to the village. 

“Do you know the Chief’s language?” asked 
Harry, as Uraso gave way to Muro. 

“We can understand each other pretty well. 
There are many words which are the same, but he 
uses some which are new to me. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Do you suppose they are the same people as are 
on our island?” 


GIANT CHIEF AND HIS ‘‘ PALACE 123 


‘H do not know that. We have heard that all the 
people in the different islands came from the same 
place, but where we do not know.’’ 

Then the boys crowded around George, and in- 
sisted on having him tell his story. Did you ever 
hear a boy tell a thrilling story of his own adven- 
tures? Well George was in his heaven of delight as 
he told of his treatment, and how he had dined with 
the Chief, and slept in his palace. 

‘‘His palace?” queried Harry. 

“Yes, palace! It isn’t a common house!” And 
George dilated on it to such an extent that Harry 
actually grew envious at the big time that George 
had at their expense. 

The party wended its way down the hill, and when 
the village was reached the sight there astounded 
George. He had left it a sleepy place. Now all 
I was bustle. Fires were being built; the men and 
I women were busy preparing food. A species of hog, 
well known on Wonder Island, was being prepared 
and spitted, and hung over the heated coals. 

They saw the favorite native vegetable, the Taro 
root, and also, to their surprise, an abundance of 
iCTraso’s poison bulb, the Amarylla, which he had 
tried to prepare in stealth after he had been cap- 
I tured, and the telling of which was the occasion of 
j many jokes at the expense of George and Harry, 
j John, the two hoys, together with Uraso and Muro, 
I were ushered into the Chief’s house. 

“And this is what you call a ‘]jalace’?” remarked 
Harry. 


105 


124 ADVENTUEES ON STKANGE ISLANDS 


‘‘Whynotr’ 

^ ‘ From your description I tliouglit it might be on 
top of a big hill with graded steps leading up be- 
tween rows of flowers, and the rooms filled with stat- 
uary, with a large fountain playing in the center of 
a fine banquet hall.’’ 

George laughed at the joke. ‘‘The trouble with 
you is that you are not a philosopher, Harry. If 
you had been as well treated as I have been you 
would think the same as I do.” 

John overheard the conversation, and remarked: 
“I must say that there is more philosophy in that 
view than even you, George, appreciate. ’ ’ 

“Have I said anything unusual!” he asked with 
a sort of mock gravity. 

“Quite so ; have you ever heard the saying ‘Hand- 
some is, as handsome does’! Well, that is the root 
of all true actions in life. From the noble manner in 
which this Chief treated George, giving him the best 
that he had, and installing him in the finest room 
in the house, is doing all that any one can do. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ That is the way I really felt about it at the time. 
I was tired and hungry, and instead of meeting an 
enemy, I met a friend.” 

“Do you see, Harry! George did right in calling 
this a palace. If it so appears in his heart, and he 
feels that impulse, isn’t that just as real as though 
you see it with your eyes!” 

“I didn’t think of it in that way,” said Harry, 
apologetically. “I like the old fellow. He is good 
enough to be a white man.” 


CHAPTER X 


PECULIAEITIES OF THE NATIVE TEIBE 

Within an hour the feast was ready, and the men 
in the open were already making merry with the 
maidens who prepared the meal. George and Harry 
frequently nudged each other, as they caught the 
eyes of some of the native boys who were very at- 
tentive to the gentler sex. 

Within the Chief’s dwelling there was the most 
animated conversation indulged in by the Chief, 
Uraso and John, and to this number were added the 
Chief ’s brother, and a handsome man who was prob- 
ably one of the Chief’s principal advisors. Muro 
and Uraso were the interpreters. 

The latter, by turns, told the Chief where they 
sailed from, and what their history had been for the 
past three years. They told about the wonderful 
Professor, and all concerning John, and what part 
the two boys had taken in the transformation of the 
island. 

‘^But where is this wonderful ship!” asked the 
Chief. 

‘‘On the other side of the island,” answered Uraso. 

“Then why do you not bring it here!” 

“We should have done so, but we did not know we 
had a friend here.” 


125 


126 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


‘‘I want to see the wonderful place you have told 
me about, — ^your home, and how you make people 
happy,’’ said the Chief. 

John’s face lit up when this was interpreted to 
him. 

‘‘What do your people work at?” the Chief 
abruptly asked Muro. 

“We make many curious things, like the articles 
you have here, ’ ’ and he pointed to George ’s belong- 
ings, which were still lying about. 

The Chief hurriedly gathered them up and handed 
them to George. The latter, after turning to John, 
refused to take them, and addressing Uraso, said: 
“Tell him that I want him to take them, and my gim, 
as well.” 

The Chief could not understand this, and at first 
refused, but John, as well as Uraso, insisted, and the 
latter said: 

“These boys can make these things, and they do 
not feel that they are sacrificing anything, beyond 
what it is their duty to do.” 

The Chief looked doubtfully at the boys, as he 
remarked: “Do you tell me that these memeeSf 
(Boys) made these things?” 

Uraso and Muro both assured them that such was 
the case, and added: “And still more wonderful 
things. ’ ’ 

After some conversation Uraso turned to John 
and said: “The Chief wishes to send a runner to 
bring the ship to the harbor here. Hasmo may ac- 
company him. ’ ’ 


PECULIARITIES OF NATIVE TRIBE 127 


This arrangement had John^s approval, and when 
Hasmo was advised of the mission, he jumped up 
with delight, and, together with the Chief ^s fleetest 
messenger, speeded off to make the intervening 
twenty-five miles. 

It was not much of a task for the two men. In 
less than four hours, Sutoto saw two men on the 
shore, one of them waving a signal that he under- 
stood. A boat was put off, and when the runners 
came aboard, and the news imparted, all on board 
sprang to their places, the anchor was hurriedly 
taken up, and the Pioneer soon rounded the point, 
while they all eagerly scanned the shore. 

The Chief and his visitors remained in the ‘‘pal- 
ace’’ for three hours, while the latter told and retold 
the stories which so much interested the chieftain. 
Then John began to question him upon matters that 
more nearly concerned their visit. 

“Ask him,” he said, “if they have any Krishnos 
here?” 

“He does not know what they are,” answered 
Muro. 

“Does he believe in a Great Spirit?” 

“No he has never heard anything of that kind.” 

“Ask him if he knows who makes the rain and the 
sunshine, and the clouds.” 

“He says that the questions are surprising to 
him. ’ ’ 

“Has he never thought of those things?” 

“No; all he knows is that he lives and that he is 
a Chief and is the one who must govern the people.” 


128 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


‘‘Does he know why he is the Chief T’ 

“Yes; because he is stronger than any one else.^’ 

“That would certainly make him a Chief, re- 
marked Harry. “I never saw such a big man.” 

‘ ‘ Do they have any big holes in the ground ? ^ ’ 

When the question was asked he waited a moment, 
and then slowly shook his head. 

“They have nothing of that kind to his knowl- 
edge. ’ ’ 

The countenances of Harry and George fell. John 
noticed it, and smiled at the disappointment. 

‘ ‘ There are no caves around here, ^ ’ said George. 

“Are there any mountains on the island!” 

‘ ‘ There are high hills. ’ ’ 

“Have they any neighbors, or different tribes!” 

“Yes; to the north, (pointing in that direction) 
are some bad people, but they belong to him. ^ ’ 

“Why do they not live near to the village!” 

“Because they would make the people bad.” 

“What did they do that was so bad!” 

“They stole and lied.” 

“From whom did they steal!” 

“From the Chief.” 

“Did they steal from each other!” 

“No ; they could not steal from each other.” 

At this remark the boys laughed. John began 
to be interested now in his questionings. 

“Do you mean it is not wrong to steal from each 
other, but only from the Chief!” 

He nodded an assent. This was a curious bit of 


PECULIARITIES OF NATIVE TRIBE 129 


reasoning. It needed some explanation. John con- 
tinued : 

‘ ^ Why is it wrong to steal from the Chief and not 
from each other 

At this question the Chief did not answer as 
promptly as usual. He weighed the question in his 
mind. He smiled as though to say: How can it 
be wrong for people to take things from each other? 
They do not own anything. No one but the Chief 
owns things. 

His answer, when finally given, was not at all 
clear, at least so the boys thought. 

‘ ‘ The Chief in his wisdom gives to all alike ; and 
when he gives it the property still belongs to him and 
not the people ; but if they take it from the Chief then 
they are robbers.’’ 

‘‘Ask him,” said John, “whether, if when he gives 
anything to one of his people, and it still belongs to 
him, after he gives it, why it is not stealing from 
him, if some one takes it away from the one he gave 
it to?” 

The Chief was not at all taken aback at this ques- 
tion. Pointing to the sun, he said: 

“That is a great Chief. He gives seed to the peo- 
ple, and they plant it. But the great Chief does not 
forget it. The seed comes up to see its father. It 
still belongs to him. When he gives that seed to the 
people it is for their use. Every one has a right to 
take it and use it, and it is no crime. But if he takes 
it away from the Chief, he destroys what belongs to 


130 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


him, and he then does a wrong which must be pun- 
ished. ^ ’ 

‘‘This may not be very clear to you,’’ said John, 
“but it means that whoever takes it away and de- 
stroys it wilfully, is guilty of a crime. Whatever 
the Great Chief gives willingly, like the fruits of the 
earth, is intended for all alike, and men should not 
be called criminals for taking what they need, if 
they do not wilfully destroy it. ’ ’ 

“That is a wonderful idea, wheil I come to think 
of it,” remarked George. “And to think that a sav- 
age could work that out in his mind. ’ ’ 

“But there is one thing that looks a little queer 
to me. He said he did not know or believe in a 
Great Spirit, and yet he talks of the sun as a Great 
Spirit,” remarked Harry. 

“I will put the question to him,” said John. 
“You said that you did not believe in a Great Spirit, 
but now you speak about the sun as a Great Chief. 
Do you not believe in him?” 

“No ; I only know that he is there ; I do not believe 
in him any more than in the carago (moon).” 

A great noise was heard outside ; the Chief looked 
up, as an attendant entered. He spoke to Uraso, 
and the latter turned to John and said: 

“Our ship is coming.” 

This announcement broke up the interview. It 
was exciting and interesting from first to last, and 
when they emerged from the dwelling the host and 
visitors were friends that the future never could 
sever. It gave a new inspiration to the boys, and it 


PECULIAEITIES OF NATIVE TRIBE 131 


showed them that even a low state of man was ca- 
pable of expressing things that were worthy of con- 
sideration. 

The entire village went to the seashore. The in- 
habitants wondered at the great vessel, and were im- 
pressed at the manner in which it was handled. 

‘‘I am anxious to see the man who can row such 
a vessel, ’ ^ said the Chief. 

‘‘He is one of the men from our island,’’ answered 
Muro. 

This seemed to be an astonishing thing to him. 
He had seen vessels before, but in the distance. At 
long intervals parts of ships had come ashore; but 
;||) this was the first time that a vessel had ever landed, 
within his recollection. 

As it drew near he marveled at its size. He could 
see the man at the bow-sprit who was constantly 
i throwing something attached to a line overboard, 
and then drawing it in again. 

He questioned the reason for such a strange action, 
and was told that the man was trying the depth of 
the water, so that they might not come too close to 
the shore, and strike the bottom. Then some of the 
sailors dropped something overboard, with a great 
splash, and a huge sail fell down like magic, and the 
, ship still moved toward the shore and turned around. 

' The Chief was inquisitive concerning every action. 
Why did the ship act like a human and turn around ? 
He could hardly believe the statement when told that 
the anchor was a giant claw, and that when it reached 
the bottom it took hold and had sufficient strength 


132 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


to stop the ship and make it swing around, as he had 
witnessed. 

A boat was lowered, and the last one to descend 
was Sntoto. Uraso pointed out his figure, and the 
Chief kept his eyes on him. The first man to leave 
the boat was Sutoto, and both boys rushed down to 
meet him. It was the course they always pursued, 
to be in the lead to welcome anyone. 

They led him to the Chief, and he put his great 
arms about Sutoto, to the latter’s great embarrass- 
ment. But what affected Sutoto more than any- 
thing else, were the eyes of the Chief’s daughter, 
who had acted so shyly to George the night before. 
From that moment Sutoto saw no one else, and she, — 
well, Harry and George laughed, and slyly caressed 
Sutoto, as they saw her admiring glances. 

Sutoto was the handsomest native on Wonder Is- 
land. He was the brave and fleet runner who under- 
took the mission to pass through the three savage 
tribes to carry a message, written on a plaintain leaf 
by the Professor, to John and the boys while they 
were surrounded by the hostiles. 

The friendship between him and the boys grew 
stronger and better from that day on. The tribute 
to him was one which the boys enjoyed for his sake, 
and because he deserved it. 

There was a feast that night, unparalleled in the 
knowledge of the boys. It was like going to a new 
world, and meeting new people. Only one little thing 
seemed to mar the joyous occasion for the boys for a 
time. When they were returning from the beach, 


PECULIARITIES OF NATIVE TRIBE 133 


they saw three of the natives, together with their 
wives and children, with their hands bound, and in 
charge of a half dozen warriors. 

George recognized the three as his captors. Then 
was impressed upon him the fact that they were 
about to pay the penalty for stealing his things and 
hiding the theft from the Chief. They were to be 
exiled to the place where the bad people lived. 

George hurriedly told Uraso the story of the theft, 
and begged him to intercede with the Chief. In- 
stantly, when he learned that George requested it, he 
turned to Uraso, and said: ‘‘He may release 
them. ’ ’ 

He rushed up to the now bewildered culprits, in 
order to sever the bonds, and then recalling that he 
had given his knife to the Chief, he called to Harry, 
and together they freed the limbs of the captives and 
the Chief, with a few words of admonition, dismissed 
them. The boys never forgot the grateful looks that 
came from the men and their wives. 

When they had departed Muro said: “Under 
their law the women and children of the culprits are 
criminals also, and so they were doomed to go to- 
gether. ’ ’ 

It would be a difficult matter to describe the food 
prepared and eaten at this banquet. Several varie- 
ties of fowl, all wild types, and the wild boar, as well 
as the ’possum, provided the meats. Of course taro 
and amarylla were the chief vegetables ; and of nuts, 
the well known Brazil species was found everywhere, 
and to be seen in all dwellings. 


134 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


The outer portion of the shell of the Brazil nut 
formed bowls and cups, which the boys early learned 
to utilize. There were bananas, a species of fig, and 
loquats. 

‘‘What surprises me is that they have no fish, or 
sea food of any kind,’’ observed Harry. 

John mused for a while, and then said: “It is 
likely that the people here have the same aversion 
to fish as some natives along the Australian conti- 
nent, and in the islands near there.” 

“What is that!” asked George. 

“The natives of New Guinea, for instance, worship 
snakes, lizards, sharks and crocodiles, and there is 
a strict law among them not to injure anything of 
that kind. As a result, they are afraid to eat any- 
thing that approaches the shape of these animals. ’ ’ 

“Well, if they worship the snakes they must have 
some kind of religion, ’ ’ ventured Harry. 

“Yes; and with them go the witch doctors who 
practice on the people and charge fees just the same 
as the physicians do in our country.” 

“Do they claim there is a Great Spirit, like some 
of the people here!” 

“No; they have a God called Baigona, who lives 
in the mountains, and instead of being a good God, 
is a bad one ; he has the power to speak without be- 
ing heard, to strike without being seen, and he loves 
and hates, just like human beings. He gives the 
witch doctor the power to do anything, without being 
WTong, and without being liable to punishment.” 


PECULIARITIES OF NATIVE TRIBE 135 


‘‘Well, that is a pretty convenient God to have,’’ 
said Harry, as he mused at the idea. 

The peculiar thing about the absence of sea food 
at the banquet could not be understood, particularly 
as the natives on Wonder Island were great fish eat- 
ers, and were also the bitter enemies of snakes. 

“We must consult the Chief about that,” said 
John. 

At the first opportunity the subject was brought 
up, and it was discovered that the people were afraid 
to eat anything that came from the sea. And then 
another thing was learned. There were no rivers of 
any consequence on the island; only a few streams, 
that were dry most of the year. 

“I can understand,” said John, “that in such a 
case you do not have fresh water fish.” 

The Chief was, in many respects, a remarkable 
character. Most natives are extremely supersti- 
tious, and it is particularly true of those who have 
a belief in some form of God. While he would mar- 
vel at new things they did not occur to him as being 
the result of some new occult force. 

In this respect he differed from the natives of 
Wonder Island, all of whom believed, more or less, 
in the tales of the Medicine Men, and of the witch 
doctors. Old Suros, of the Berees tribe, was the 
only one who did not believe in the existence of a 
being who could rule him. 

But the Chief had other qualities which were re- 
markable in a savage, if such he was. He governed 


136 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


according to some law, and yet he did not know what 
law was. The only thing in that community was the 
will of that one man. 

If he said something, in adjusting any matter, it 
was always remembered by the people, and that rul- 
ing became a guide for them in the future. Take, 
for instance, the theft of the articles from George. 
The three who participated in it, knew that it was 
not wrong, according to the light they had, to take 
it from George. 

Indeed, the Chief had distinctly said that they 
could not steal from each other, but only from him, 
hence the theft of the articles which George owned 
was not a crime. On what ground, then, were they 
guilty? 

George thought he had solved the problem, when 
discussing the matter with John. “The Chief found 
them guilty of trying to hide what they had done, and 
they were caught at it.” 

^ ‘ But the Chief was not covetous. He admitted he 
did not care for the things, and one of the men told 
Muro that the Chief never took things from his peo- 
ple without paying for them. ’ ’ 

“Well, then, he punished them for trying to de- 
ceive him.” 

“There, that is one of the crimes which the Chief 
referred to. I think he is a wonderful character, and 
I hope we shall be able to unite him with us.” 


CHAPTER XI 

SUTOTO AND THE CHIEF’S DAUGHTER 

It was plain that Sutoto was not the same being. 
During the three days they remained at the port, and 
formed the exploring expeditions into the interior, 
with the co-operation of the Chief, Sutoto did not 
take a part. 

He begged to be allowed to remain near the ship. 
That was a sly suggestion which John understood. 
Even though he might have been blind he would 
have known the true reason, for the boys were con- 
tinuously joking Sutoto all of which he took good- 
naturedly, and John often burst out in fits of laugh- 
ter, as he witnessed Sutoto ’s discomfiture. 

The Chief’s name was Beralsee, and the big-eyed 
maiden was known as Cinda, the meaning of which 
was, as explained by Beralsee, the Beautiful Star. 
The Chief had four other children, one a man of 
twenty-one, and the others younger than Cinda. 

The eldest, Calmo, was tall and lithe, like Sutoto. 
Like his father he was original in his ways, and to 
him the Chief entrusted the care of the expeditions 
which were made at the suggestion of John. The 
latter explained that they had seen the wonderful 
products growing on the island, coffee, cocoa, spices, 
and particularly the various fibres. 

The recital of the tales, of how the white man used 
137 


138 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


these things to make the various needed articles, and 
how the great ships were employed to carry the 
goods to and fro, and how the different things were 
exchanged, interested him. 

Many of the subjects were not within his compre- 
hension. Why were all these things done? What 
was the object of having so many products? 

J ohn told him that when men had everything they 
really needed to keep them alive and in comfort, they 
still wanted something more, and those things were 
called luxuries; then, after they and their children 
used these luxuries for a while, they found them to 
be absolutely essential and they then became neces- 
saries. In that way men learned the use of so 
many, many things, that the whole world was being 
searched to find products which would serve to make 
the needed things. 

‘^Do you mean,’’ said the Chief, ^^that your people 
are trying to find things they do not need, so they 
can buy them, and try to make some use of them?” 

John could not help but smile at the acuteness of 
the question. ‘ ‘ That, in effect, is just what they do. 
It is not so considered, however, by our people. It 
is difficult to say just where necessity ends and lux- 
ury begins. But each year, yes every month, new 
things are brought out, and people begin to buy 
them, because the traders and the people who sell 
are shrewd and know how to cultivate taste and the 
desire for new and startling things.” 

^^But how do the people get the articles to ex- 
change for these things?” 


SUTOTO AND CHIEF DAUGHTER 139 


^‘The people do not accumulate articles to buy 
other articles with. Instead, they work to get 
money, and with this money they buy the things. ’ ’ 

‘ H do not know what you mean by that. What is 
‘money’U’ 

^Ht is an article which tells what everything else 
is worth.’’ 

‘‘Then it must be wonderful. I would like to see 
that remarkable thing which can tell what everything 
else is worth.” 

John took some of the coins from his pocket. 
“Here is some of it, which we use on Wonder Is- 
land.” 

The Chief smiled. He held them in his hand. He 
knew the meaning of the hole in the center. They 
were intended, as he thought, to be threaded on a 
string, and used as an ornament. 

They fascinated him. He had never seen any- 
thing so attrajctive. He looked at John, while he 
thought, but did not speak. Then J ohn said : ‘ ‘ This 
is worth one cent, and this larger one five cents.” 

He compared the two. Finally, he said : ‘ ‘ What 
makes this worth so much more than the other, and 
why are they worth anything T ’ 

“Because there is so much metal, — so much cop- 
per, in each.” 

“But copper is of no use. I cannot eat it, and it 
will not clothe me. ’ ’ 

“No, but if you have this money then you can get 
the clothes, and the size of them will tell just how 
much clothing you can get.” 

106 . 


140 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


“I do not understand it. Wliere can I go and get 
clothing with these round pieces?’^ 

^‘You must go where the clothing is, or the goods 
must he brought to you.^’ 

^‘Well, if we are here, at a place where there 
should be no clothing, or no food, this money, as you 
call it, would not enable me to clothe or feed myself T’ 
‘^Assuredly not.^’ 

‘ ‘ Then it has no value 1 ’ ’ 

‘‘No; it merely measures the value of something 
which I can eat or wear, or use. ’ ’ 

“Then why not use a taro root, or a fowl, or wisps 
of fibre 

‘ ‘ That would he all right, if we could have a com- 
mon understanding between us of how much a taro 
bulb was worth by the side of a bundle of fibre, and 
how large the bundle should he to exchange fairly 
with an armful of Amarylla tubers. ’ ^ 

On the third day the boys, together with John, a 
party of the hoys, and three natives under the lead 
of Calmo, started for the northern end of the is- 
land. John had now learned that the island was 
entirely unlike the Wonder Island formation. 

The latter was fairly circular in form, whereas the 
one they were now about to explore was narrow and 
long. That part of the southern portion which they 
had carefully examined, in order to learn its agricul- 
tural possibilities, was rolling, and in many places 
had level plateaus, not anywhere at a greater altitude 
than three or four hundred feet above sea level. 


SUTOTO AND CHIEF DAUGHTEE 141 


There was higher ground to the north, where the 
climate was uninviting, so Beralsee said, and it was 
for that reason they made it a convict colony. 

John was anxious to see the people who were ex- 
iled from their homes on account of their crimes. 
Furthermore, he was impressed with the idea that 
the upper end showed volcanic upheavals, which 
would be likely to expose mineral formations. 

Gruesome tales were current of the ferocity of the 
convicts. It was no wonder that the poor victims, 
whom George had prevented from being expelled 
several days before, regarded their deliverance as 
such a great blessing. 

No one, once condemned, was ever permitted to 
come back. The condemnation was for all time. 
Furthermore, it was part of the Chief ^s unwritten 
code, that no one who transgressed the law could 
ever make atonement, or recover his rights. 

To be able to meet people so condemned, and to 
talk with them and get their views, was worth an 
exertion, surely, and Harry and George were just as 
enthusiastic at the prospects of the journey. 

^‘That may be some recompense for not finding 
any caves, ’ ’ said George. 

Harry laughed, as he looked at George. ^ ^ To hear 
you talk people might think you had caves on the 
brain.’’ 

‘‘Well the caves are the only thing that we have 
had in the way of sport. And then the treasures !” 

“I know that; but I shall not be disappointed if 
there isn’t a cave within five hundred miles.” 


142 xlDVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


^‘Nor I; but John is very anxious, for some rea- 
son, to find some particular cave. I’ll bet anything 
that skull we found on the southeast peak of Won- 
der Island has something to do with it, judging by 
the way he is caring for the skull, and spending 
hours in examining it.” 

^^I had forgotten about that,” responded Harry. 
‘ ‘ That brings back my interest, now. But John does 
not think there are any caves on this island, but he 
believes that there is another island farther south.” 

^Hs that so?” 
am sure of it.” 

^^How sure?” 

‘‘Well, the chart which John made has this island 
on it, and a mark which shows something like it di- 
rectly to the south. I saw that several days ago.” 

“When did he make the drawing?” 

‘ ‘ Since he has been on this island. ’ ’ 

Harry emitted a low whistle. “I thought John 
had something in his mind all along. What do you 
suppose he expects to find in that particular cave ? ’ ’ 

“Well, not money; that’s sure. It might be a 
good idea to do some thinking and searching on our 
own account.” 

“I have often wondered, since we have been on 
Wonder Island, and more particularly, since we 
landed here, whether it would not be possible to trace 
some of the unsolved mysteries of Wonder Island to 
this, or some other island.” 

“Yes, I have often thought of that. We have gone 
over every part of that island, and found no trace 


SUTOTO AND CHIEF’S DAUGHTER 143 


of the other boat load, that is of the boys who came*^ 
ashore on the Investigator's No. 3. None of the 
tribes ever knew or heard of that boat, nor was there 
ever a trace of the members of that crew. 

^‘That is the mystery. Some one brought the boat 
to the island. Some one took it inland. Some one, 
a man by the name of Walter, wrote a note ad- 
dressed to Wright, who was one of the companions 
of John when he was shipwrecked, but Wright knew 
nothing of Walter. If the solution of this matter 
does not lie in some other island, we might as well 
give it up. ’ ’ 

Before describing the events of the journey it is 
necessary to make a digression, so that we may be 
able to recount some things which had a bearing on 
the adventures and experiences of the two boys after 
they returned. 

The natives on Wonder Island, as well as on the 
island where they mow were, wore the most primitive 
kinds of clothing. The men had the simplest cloth- 
ing, merely a breech clout, worn about the loins, and 
the Chiefs usually wore some distinguishing clothing 
about their shoulders, and usually on their arms. 

The women, however, had short skirts, and like, 
their white sisters, abounded in ornaments. Some- 
of them had jackets, to which the trinkets were at- 
tached. All delighted in bracelets. These wmre us- 
ually formed like bands around their arms and limbs, 
and the wealth and importance of the dame was 
judged from the number so employed. 

As a result, when they became great and wealthy. 


144 ADYENTUKES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


more and more clothing had to be nsed, to enable 
them to attach the ornaments. It might be said, that 
clothing was worn, not for the purpose of covering 
the body, or for comfort, hut in order to serve as a 
vehicle to attach the much desired trinkets, and the 
dangling character of these articles seemed to he the 
great attraction. 

For this reason bright and sparkling hits of jew- 
elry were the most sought. It mattered not what 
they were made of, hut the glistening surface had its 
value to them. Singularly enough, the women on the 
new island strove to decorate themselves in like 
manner, and presumably, for the same purpose. 

When the savages in Wonder Island were brought 
out of their crude state, the Professor and George 
knew that they could not change that fundamental 
law of nature, nor did they attempt to work a revo- 
lution in the minds and characters of the people in 
this respect. 

Within certain limitations such a desire to orna- 
ment and render themselves attractive is most laud- 
able. They knew that among the few peoples in the 
world, where that quality is entirely lacking, they 
are of the lowest type, and possessed of the least in- 
tellect, and that all such are the hardest to cultivate. 

Here, as on Wonder Island, the natives understood 
weaving, the fabrics being of the coarsest character, 
both in the matter of quality and appearance. The 
work was necessarily slow and tedious, and the prin- 
cipal work of the women was to weave these articles 
of wear with the simple tools they had. 


SUTOTO AND CHIEF DAUGHTEE 145 


Wlien tlie boys built the looms, and tbe natives 
saw the wonderful goods produced, and the dyes pre- 
pared to give the fabrics the different hues, the 
women became most expert weavers, and the natural 
result was that they vied with each other to make the 
best articles, and to form them into the most fashion- 
able garments. 

When the Pioneer, and later their new steamer. 
Wonder, which was now regularly running to one of 
the great seaports, began to bring in such products 
as they could not make in the islands, a new impetus 
was given to the dress designed for women. 

Before the boys left for Wonder Island, that place 
attracted immigrants from the north; they brought 
their families, and began to engage in the business of 
exporting the fruits and the fibres, as well as the ores 
and the dyes from the island. From the white 
women the native women learned the new art of 
dressing, and of adornment. 

Their coming was not needed to give them the de- 
sire, but they were not slow to recognize that their 
fair-skinned sisters could teach them the refining 
process. 

Muro’s wife was the sister of Uraso, the latter a 
man of naturally strong intellect, and his sister was 
not behind him in her particular domain. She was 
at all times the leading spirit in the development of 
her people, and to her the Professor imparted many 
of the great secrets, that might be of service. 

Stut, the brother of Muro, was second in com- 
mand of the vessel, and before they left on the mis- 


146 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


sion into the interior, John called in Stut, and in 
presence of the boys imparted a scheme that met with 
hearty approval. 

It was now an open secret that Sutoto and Cinda 
were in love. If the Chief knew of it he did not ex- 
hibit any alarm, or otfer any objections. John knew 
that courtships on the islands were not usually of 
long duration. He thought it would be a fine thing 
to make the wedding a ‘ ^ state affair. ’ ’ 

^‘Now, Stut, I want to entrust you with a mission 
to the Professor and Muro^s wife, to whom you can 
explain the situation. She must prepare a suitable 
outfit for the bride, and tell her I think she and the 
other women that she might choose should also come 
over. They must not forget to bring the proper 
costumes for Cinda ’s mother and for all the attend- 
ants. 

^‘The Professor will know what is suitable to send 
over for the Chief. All this will take some time to 
arrange, and it must be done without letting Sutoto 
know. I will arrange the matter with him so that he 
will not suspect your real mission. 

^ ‘ Our work at the northern part of the island will 
take about ten days, and probably less. If you have 
no trouble, and this time of the year is not a stormy 
one, you can easily make the trip there in a day and 
a half, and return in the same time, thus giving you a 
full week to prepare the articles.’’ 

Stut was in raptures at the announcement. John 
knew that he w^as capable, and trusted him. Shortly 
afterwards Sutoto was sent for, and John said : ‘ ‘It 


SUTOTO AND CHIEF DAUGHTER 147 


is necessary for the Pioneer to return to Wonder Is- 
land to get some things of importance for ns. It 
would please me better to have you remain, and Stut 
can take your place for the trip; but if you prefer 
to go, it will be satisfactory.’^ 

Sutoto hesitated for a moment. He eyed John for 
a moment, and the boys begged him to remain. They 
knew, as did John, that their entreaties were not nec- 
essary. Finally, with a most suspicious glance, he 
consented to stay. Stut was notified, and he came in. 

‘‘Stut, I have some very valuable papers which 
must be delivered to the Professor, who will send 
some things back, and I have arranged with Sutoto 
that he shall remain and help us in our investiga- 
tions here, while you sail the Pioneer to Unity.” 

Stut looked at Sutoto for a moment, as though 
taken by surprise, and announced his willingness to 
go. ‘ ‘ Then start at once, ’ ’ remarked John, ‘ ‘ and re- 
turn as soon as possible.” 

Sutoto called Stut aside, after they left John. 
“Will you get some things for me!” he asked. 

“Certainly, what can I do for you!” 

Then Sutoto imparted the secret of his coming 
marriage to Stut, and the latter with well concealed 
surprise, promised secrecy, and assured him that he 
would get the clothing necessary and the particular 
presents that seemed to be of more importance to* 
him than his garments. 

Within two hours the ship was ready, and as they 
were leaving the vessel Stut told the boys of the com- 
mission which he had undertaken at Sutoto ’s request. 


CHAPTEE XII 


THE SKELETON BENEATH THE BOAT 

The present journey reminded the boys of the 
time when they began their wanderings in the un- 
known wilds of their own island. Then they were in- 
experienced, lacking the most ordinary knowledge of 
life in the open, afraid of slightest noise when in un- 
known places, and constantly fearing attack by wild 
men or beasts. 

What a difference now ! They had been success- 
ful, and had abundant treasures at their command. 
Something told them that they were to find still 
greater treasures, and the zest was one beyond ex- 
pression. 

The course was directed due north. The boys 
knew that they were to investigate the mountains, 
the hills and the streams. They were to learn what 
fruits and vegetation might be found in their native 
state on the island; the kinds and varieties of ani- 
mals, and the qualities of the minerals, if the geo- 
logical formations offered them for inspection. 

From the first day that they landed, the boys had 
heard a peculiar guttural sound, impossible to de- 
scribe. The sound was almost annoying after they 
had heard it for a time. Passing the limb of a tree 
during the first hour of the march they heard the 
same cry. 


148 


SKELETON BENEATH THE BOAT 149 


‘H see what it is,’^ remarked George. ‘Ht is a 
bird. See it on that limb 1 ’ ’ 

John looked, and then turned to George. ‘‘Why 
certainly, that is the Kagu. ’ ’ 

“Why its bill and feet are red, while the rest of 
the body is gray. What 
a funny feather it has 
running back from its 
headr’ 

Harry laughed, as he 
remarked : “I wonder if 
our women took their 
hat fashions from the 
KaguT^ 

“You have made a cor- 
rect observation. Some 
species of the hornbill 
have feathers which pro- 
ject up into the air like sentinels, and the same 
feathers are used in exactly the same fashion by 
makers of millinery. Now, I am not an authority on 
the fashions, but I have often thought that if the 
leaders in styles would build those wonderful head 
decorations something like the patterns furnished by 
nature they would be more beautiful and becoming. ’ ^ 
“I wonder if it has only one leg!’^ 

John laughed. “I imagine it has two. It is the 
custom of many birds of this species to stand for 
hours on one leg. It is of the same family as the 
stork, the heron and the ibis.’’ 

“Wily don’t we see more animals?” 



T'he Ka^ga . 


150 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


‘ ‘ The island is not, probably, large enongh. These 
small islands have only the smallest kinds. Besides, 
the larger animals are found where the nature of the 
country permits them to conceal themselves.’’ 

George stopped before a large bush which had rows 
of yellow flowers growing up all along the stems, and 
at each flower was a seed. 

^‘Ah! you have found a most valuable plant,” said 
John, as he broke off one of the stems. ‘‘Feel the 
crushed leaves.” 

“It is just like grease.” 

“It is an oil. It is one of the products largely 
used in the United States, as a substitute for olive 
oil, and for soap making.” 

“What is it called!” 

“The plant is known as Benne. The product is 
Sesame oil. The peculiarity of the plant is that 
nearly one-half of the leaf is a pure oil, and it can 
remain exposed a long time before it turns rancid.” 

“I wonder if that is what they use in their cook- 
ing!” 

“Yes ; it is absolutely inodorous, and is better than 
lard for table uses. Look at the seeds. They are 
classed with the most nutritious in the world. ’ ’ 

“The Chief had them, and I tried some of them 
the first night I dined with him. ’ ’ 

The route led to an upper plateau, well wooded, 
many of the trees being of the palm variety, with 
plenty of silver-leafed families so common every- 
where. 

“Do look at the Coffee trees!” exclaimed Harry. 


SKELETON BENEATH THE BOAT 151 


The Chief’s son was consulted. He had no knowl- 
edge of the use of the berry. ‘^We must take a lot 
of the berries back with us. This will be a treat at 
the celebration. ’ ’ J ohn stopped short, and the boys 
commenced to laugh. He had almost given away the 



^e^7?w oil Z2 l£ 

scheme for the wedding feast. Sutoto did not catch 
the force of the allusion. 

George and Harry were now on the quest for new 
things in every direction, and the natives aided them 
in carrying out their every wish. After they had 
reached a small stream flowing to the north it became 
evident that they had passed the highest point of the 
plateau, and were now descending. 

One of the natives pointed out a peculiarly-shaped 
tree, tall, with immense leaves, and at each leaf 
cluster there was an immense white flower. 


152 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


^^Here is a tree with yellow flowers. We must 
have some of these as specimens,’^ said Harry. 

The trees were exceedingly tall. ‘‘The men are 
asking if you want some of the flowers/’ said Sutoto. 

“By all means,” answered George. Without a 
moment’s hesitation a young athlete made his way to 
the top, and gathered a dozen branches, which he 
dropped to the ground. 

The beauty of these flowers is difficult to describe. 
The tree body is perfectly straight, and the limbs 

grow out uni- 
formly on three 
sides, the leaves 
being very rough. 

“This is a spe- 
cies which be- 
longs to the Indi- 
cus family,” re- 
marked John, as 
he cut off one of 
the leaves. “It 
would be a good 
tree for carpen- 
ters to raise.” 

/O. of Titcltca r?:ee . ^‘Why so?” 

asked George. 

“You see it is just like sand-paper.” 

“Well, that is something to know. But will it 
really smooth down wood ? ’ ’ 

“It is frequently used for that purpose, and you 
might take some along and try it.” 



SKELETON BENEATH THE BOAT 153 


At intervals John was observed taking np bits of 
soil, which he carefully wrapped up and deposited in 
one of the receptacles. 

‘H am curious to know what you are taking dirt 
forT^ said Harry. 

should have told you that a knowledge of the 
nature of the soil is one of the things that is very 
important to the agriculturist. Many men have 
made failures because they planted things which the 
earth was not adapted to grow. ’ ’ 

‘Ht has always been a wonder to me why things 
really do grow up out of the dirt, ’ ’ said Harry. 

^ ‘ That is not difficult to understand, if you will con- 
sider that the ground contains food, and that a plant 
can grow only where it can get the right kind. Then, 
there may be plenty of food but not the kind it can 
digest. ’ ’ 

‘AVell, that is news to me. Ho plants digest 
food!^^ 

Yes, just the same as what we call living animals. 
The tree is somewhat different from animals, in the 
particular that it digests its food firsj; and then con- 
sumes it afterwards. In this particular certain 
larvae act the same as trees, that is digest it before 
they consume it.’^ 

^^What do you mean by larval 
‘^The early form of certain living organisms, be- 
fore they are fully developed. Thus, the tadpole is 
the larva of the frog. A great many insects are 
bred from what are called grubs, or caterpillars. 
All these are called larva. 


154 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


‘‘WLat kind of food is found in the earth U’ 

‘^Many, many kinds. Carbon, nitrogen, the vari- 
ous salts, such as lime, magnesia, strontia, and the 
like, and when the little feelers shoot out from the 
roots, they are in search of something to eat.’’ 

At this point they were interrupted by shouting 
and laughter from one section of the searching party, 
and the hoys ran out across the open to learn its 
cause. Two of the natives were carrying a dark 
brown object, about half the size of an ordinary hog. 

It was kicking vigorously, but did not appear to he 
at all vicious. 

^‘Why, it looks just like a little bear,” said George 
as he danced about. ‘^Let us keep it for a pet.” 

^^It is a bear,” said John. ^‘It is the Bruang, or 
the sun-bear of the Malayan peninsula.” 

‘^But doesn’t it grow any bigger?” 

^^No; that is a full size specimen; in fact, it is a 
pretty large specimen, I should judge.” 

‘^What beautiful fur, and so soft! Will it bite?” 

^‘I am of the opinion they can bite, but they are 
easily tamed and make great pets. Hasn’t it a fine 
white spot on its breast?” 

The men stood about and allowed it to move about 
within the circle. It cast its eyes around, as much as 
to say: ^^Well, what are you going to do about it?” 

George cried out: ^‘Hold it for a minute,” and 
he pounced on one of the provision bags, and 
brought out a pot of honey. He forced his way in 
among the watchers, and with a stick dipped into the 
honey held it up before the animal. 


SKELETON BENEATH THE BOAT 155 


It smelled the honey, and began to lick the stick, 
and then it darted for the pot. ‘‘What a tongue,^’ 
exclaimed Harry. 

“That is what they are noted for. The tongue is 
made for the very purpose of going into deep holes, 


jTYff, tf. Bruan^ ', T7ie Malayan Sea? '. 



and the greatest use is to rob the hives of the wild 
honey bee.’’ 

The antics of George and the bear were most amus- 
ing to the watchers, and occasioned roars of laughter. 
When the pot was emptied he wanted more, and 
nosed around George until the latter could hardly 
keep his feet. 

“He is getting to be a mighty close friend,” said 
John, when he could find time to stop laughing for 
a moment. 

107 


156 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


‘‘Well, don’t let him get away,” cried George, as 
he saw the cordon around the animal broken up, leav- 
ing plenty of opening for it to get away. 

But, of course, the natives didn’t understand him, 
and soon Mr. Bear had all the opportunity in the 
w’orld to go home. But he didn’t. He walked along- 
side of George, and the latter liked to stroke his soft 
fur, to which no objection was offered. 

The bear followed and was by his side every 
minute of the time for the next hour, and while they 
sat down to lunch little Sunny, as George named him, 
was at the feast. He had samples of everything in 
sight, and the menu tasted good, from honey at the 
beginning of the repast, to honey at the end of it. 

The progress was necessarily slow, because there 
were so many things to examine and to make notes 
of. They went out of the way from the direct route, 
so as to cover as wide an area as possible. Before 
camping for the night they had ascended a slight ele- 
vation, and there, to the right and to the left they saw 
the wide stretches of the great ocean. 

Directly ahead was a narrow tongue of land, lead- 
ing to a broadening area, and off in the dim distance 
was a high point. The Chief’s son pointed there and 
said : 

“On the other side of that high place is where the 
bad people live.” 

‘ ‘ That must be a long way off, ’ ’ said J ohn. When 
this was interpreted he answered: “Another day’s 
march. ’ ’ 


SKELETON BENEATH THE BOAT 157 


The gentle breeze from the eastern shore was a 
great relief. 

They had marched during the day mostly through 
forests, and everywhere the atmosphere was close 
and still, so that the open space was appreciated. 

All slept soundly that night, and morning came 
only too soon for the wearied boys, but they enjoyed 
the trip too much to delay moving at the earliest op- 
portunity. While breakfast was being prepared the 
boys sauntered over to the sloping shore to the west, 
which was not more than a half mile away. 

They enjoyed walking along the pure white sand, 

I and after disrobing had a jolly time in the mildly 
moving surf. It was not often that they had oppor- 
tunities to take a sea bath. 

The bathing place was a deeply-indented bay, with 
a long sloping beach, — an ideal spot, with the camp 
plainly visible to the east. ‘‘Why not take a stroll to 
the southern end of the bay?’^ remarked Harry, after 
they were ready to return. “We might be able to 
see the headland to the south where we first sighted 
land.’’ 

“Well, then, here goes it,” and George started 
on a strong sprint to the south. 

Harry was by far the fieeter, and reached the 
tufted grass ahead of George, and then turned to the 
right, to gain the elevation. It was while thus mov- 
ing through the brush and debris, which was far 
above the normal level of the sea, that they were 
attracted by an unusual deposit of brush, and other 
accumulations. 


158 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


^‘Stop, Harry; here is something we ought to in- 
vestigate.” 

Harry turned and came back. In the early days 
of their investigation such a mass would have meant 
diligent search. It was more from a recurrence of 
the old habit that dictated the idea to George. 

It was well they did so, for not far from the top, 
and covered over with seaweed and leaves, was a box- 
like structure, evidently some part of a wreckage. 
They worked feverishly at the surrounding mass, 
and uncovered it. 

Harry started back. ^‘Do you know what this 
is ? ” he asked. George stooped over, and stared. 

‘‘It is part of the boat which was taken from 
South Eiver.” 

When that boat disappeared, only to be found 
miles away from its original location, the two box- 
like compartments which they had made in it, and the 
oars used by them, had been taken away, and instead 
they found entirely different oars, and a rope, of 
which they knew nothing. 

Here was one of the boxes. “Let’s open it,” said 
George in the most intense tone. That was easily 
done, and there they found, to their surprise, one of 
their original shell hatchets, part of a coarsely-woven 
cloth, which they recognized as one of their early 
productions on the first loom, and a dozen or more 
gourds, in which food had been placed, and all ex- 
actly as it had been stored away by them. The food 
had disappeared, of course, but it had been lost by 
the action of the sea, and decomposition, as it was 


SKELETON BENEATH THE BOAT 159 


evident that the contents had not been disturbed by 
any one. 

^^Let ns call John/’ said Harry, and he bounded 
up the beach, and ran over the crest, waving his arms 
as he did so. He had not gone half the distance 
before those at the camp saw Harry running, and 
John, and most of those in sight started on a run, 
George meanwhile industriously dragging away the 
debris. 

^‘We have found it,’’ cried Harry, as John came 
within hailing distance, and without waiting for them 
to come up he bolted back. 

^‘Now what have you discovered?” asked John as 
he came up breathless. 

^‘Part of our old boat.” 

‘‘We thought George had met with some acci- 
dent. ’ ’ 

“We got this by accident,” answered George. 
‘ ‘ See, here are some more things. This is the oar we 
had. How can you explain that?” 

It was certainly a poser. Why the exchange of 
oars? John shook his head. For once he had no 
theory even to otfer. “Come boys, let us take away 
all this stutf.” 

All gave a hand, Sutoto wondering why there 
should be so much ado about a bit of wreckage. 
George explained the affair, as well as he could. 

‘ ‘ Wliat is that board ? ’ ’ exclaimed J ohn. “No, not 
a board; that is part of a boat,” he added as more of 
the accumulation was torn away. 

“ It ’s a boat ; it ’s a boat ! ’ ’ almost shrieked George. 


160 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


^^Come to this end and take away this lot of sea- 
weed, ’ ’ called out Harry. 

They soon uncovered a boat with one end em- 
bedded in the sand so it was difficult to turn it over, 
owing to the rotten condition of the wood. Only 
here and there was any paint visible. The action of 
the elements had done its work. 

^^What kind of a boat was this?’’ asked Harry. 

John did not answer, hut peered down on the sand 
where the prow had rested. ^‘Take away the sand 
carefully here,” he said, and when he pointed the 
boys saw something white protruding an inch or two. 

As the sand was scraped away they first saw the 
thigh hone of a skeleton, and soon the whole frame 
was laid bare, the interstices filled with sand. A 
peculiar rope was around the frame, and John 
grasped it. 

The boys eagerly looked at it as John intently ex- 
amined it. ^Ht is the same,” he said. 

‘‘The same as what?” asked Harry. 

“The same as the rope found on the boat when you 
discovered it on the beach. ’ ’ 

That was the first time that the boys knew that 
John had any idea about the loss of the boat, or of 
the strange rope. It was possible, however, that the 
Professor had told J ohn about it, as they were accus- 
tomed to talk over these strange things. 

“But the boat?” asked George. “What do you 
think of the boat?” 

“It is the exact counterpart of the Investigator- s 
Life boat No. 3.” 


CHAPTER Xm 


A CONVICT COLONY OF NATIVES 

The CMef’s son was present. ‘^Did yon ever 
know of a boat load of castaways on the island T’ 
asked John. 

^AYe never knew of anything like that/^ was his 
reply. 

Every scrap in that mass of wreckage was gone 
over. There was nothing else visible by which they 
could gain the slightest clue. The skeleton was 
minutely examined. It was that of a strong, well- 
developed man, but from aU appearances one leg was 
shorter than the other. 

The bones of the shortened leg were closely inves- 
tigated. ^‘The bones show that this man met with 
an accident in early life, or before he was fully 
grown, or, he may have had some disease before he 
attained full growth, so that his right leg is shorter 
because not fully developed,’’ said John, as he con- 
tinued the examination. 

^^He must have been a soldier or an adventurer, 
as he has three bullet marks, one here in the right 
shoulder, one in the ankle, and the other on the cheek 
bone. All of the wounds were healed before he met 
his death.” 

^‘But there is one thing which is still more remark- 
161 


162 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


able. This man was a captive. He was tied in the « 
boat and it was set adrift, and was likely on the open | 

sea and washed ashore during one of the monsoons. | 

“Wliy do you think soT^ asked Harry, as soon as v 
he could recover breath after this announcement. | 

‘ ‘ This rope tells the story. ’ ^ f 

‘^But how does it happen that he and the boat 
were together. It seems to me that if the waves were 
high enough to bring the boat clear up to this point, 
he would be freed from the boat long before it 
reached this place. ’ ’ 

‘^He was tied to the boat.’^ 

One mystery was solved, and another more terrible 
in its aspect came upon its heels. There was but one 
thing to do, and that was to bury the skeleton, and 
John ordered this done, as soon as he had taken the 
complete measurements of the remains. 

^‘We don’t want the box or the things in it now,” 
said Harry. 

^Hndeed, I want the hatchet,” answered George. 
‘^Yes, and the rope,” added John. 

The boys went back to the camp with thoughtful 
expressions on their faces. 

^‘This seems to be a Wonder Island, too,” said 
George, more to himself than to any one else. 

They descended the incline, and crossed the narrow 
neck of land that joined the two parts of the island. 
Beyond, as they advanced the ground grew more 
uneven and rugged. Occasionally rocks appeared, 
the first that they had noticed except around the place 
where George was captured. 


A CONVICT COLONY OF NATIVES 163 


Nevertheless, vegetation grew in even greater pro- 
fusion than on the other branch of the island. There 
were more berries upon which all the natives feasted, 
and the boys were not slow to pick them as they 
passed. 

In traveling alongside of a hill Harry was the first 
to call attention to a peculiar leaf on a plant, which 
I bore rose-shaped flowers. ^‘This is something new 
to me. There is nothing like it on Wonder Island. 
I Did you notice it, 

Johnr’ 

The latter took a 
branch, and gazed at 
it for a long time. ‘ ‘ I 
am surprised to find 

J this growing here. It 
is a plant well known 
in Palestine, and is 
called the Eose of 
Jericho.’’ 

‘ ^ What a delightful 
perfume it has,” said 
, Harry. 

‘Ht is not noted on 
■: that account, however. 

‘‘How singular; and in what way did it get that 
name ? ’ ’ 

' “It may he dried up entirely, and if placed in 
. ■ water it will again appear to revive and raise itself 
up. This is, of course, due to its power to absorb a 
vast amount of water. It is found near the shores of 



A?. Ro^e of Jericho. , 


It is the resurrection plant. ” 


164 ADVENTUKES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


the Dead Sea, and I recall that when I was in Jeru- 
salem it was a common thing to see the plant in its 
dried-up state, sold to pilgrims who were instructed 
how to resurrect it. 

Here was caught the second and only other animal 
on the trip. It was somewhat smaller than Sunny, 
and the latter danced about the dead animal, as the 
‘‘boys’’ brought it in. 

“And what is this big-eared fellow I” asked 
George. 

John laughed as he recognized the apt description. 
“It is a kind of Australian kangaroo. It inhabits 

trees, but is very 
clumsy in appear- 
ance and in action. 
It is a kind of sloth, 
or wombat.” 

“Isn’t that a 
dandy fur?” 

“The fur is not 
so valuable as its 
skin. There is 
nothing to com- 
pare with the soft- 
ness of the hide when tanned. It feels like the finest 
velvet, and is very strong and durable. ’ ’ 

They were now ascending a series of hills, each 
more difficult than the last, and the ground became 
extremely rough and broken. There was a lone 
path, in many places nearly obliterated. It was the 
uninviting road to the land of sorrow. 



TheKoalo. , 


A CONVICT COLONY OF NATIVES 165 


The Chief’s son tried to be in the company of the 
boys at all times, and while he could not understand 
their chatter, Sutoto was a willing interpreter. He 
enjoyed the jolly freedom of the two chums, and 
their uniform good nature. 

George and Harry were ever on the alert to make 
him feel at ease and so they talked with him, and told 
of the things which John explained, and it was 
plainly seen that he marveled at things which were 
described. 

Eef erring to the exiled people, George asked: 
^‘Do those people never return after they are once 
condemned ? ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ They are never permitted to come back. ’ ’ 

‘^Do they stay there of their own free will?” 

‘‘No; I am told that they long to be at home 
again.” 

“Well, what would you do if they tried to come 
back?” 

“We would drive them away. One time they tried 
to come back, all of them, and we had to kill some 
of them,” and he said it in a tone of regret. 

‘ ‘ Hon ’t you believe in killing? ’ ’ 

He looked at George for a moment, and then looked 
up into Sutoto ’s eyes, as he said : “No ; it would do 
no good. Would that be the right way?” he asked 
with a sort of innocence that brought a blush to 
George’s cheeks. 

“No; we do not believe in killing, except when we 
must to protect ourselves. ’ ’ 

“But do you have to make such wonderful things 


166 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


as those (pointing to the guns) to protect your- 
selves ? ’ ’ 

John threw back his head and tried to prevent a 
loud laugh, at this perfectly obvious question, while 
he looked at the boys to see what sort of an answer 
would be given. 

George was non-plus sed for a minute. John had 
no business to disconcert him in that way. He 
turned and expected Harry to answer, but it seemed 
as though he had imperfectly understood it. There 
was no way out of it, and George tried to get his body 
into a proper position to answer it with dignity. 

‘^Well, you see, the guns were not made for the 
purpose of killing people, but for sporting pur- 
poses.’^ 

^‘Do you have many wild animals in your coun- 
try!” he asked naively. 

‘‘Not many now.” 

John laughed a little so as not to be too undigni- 
fied, and George saw the humor of the situation. He 
did not want to pursue the subject any further, and 
John graciously turned the conversation by announc- 
ing the discovery of the Upas tree. 

“I didn’t know the Upas tree was of such immense 
size,” said Harry. “Is it really true that it kills 
everything that comes near it!” 

“No, that is greatly exaggerated. The only time 
when it gives forth any harmful exudations, is when 
it is cut down, or when the bark is torn away, or it is 
wounded in such a way that the sap comes into con- 
tact with the body.” 


A CONVICT COLONY OF NATIVES 167 


The illustration shows a flowering branch of the 
tree, and gives an idea of the silk-like leaves. 

They were still going upwardly. On both sides, to 
the east and to the west could be seen the rolling sea. 
Ahead was the mountain, if such it might be called. 
Eocks began to appear everywhere. John stopped 



T^tg. JT^loa/e? ' Upa^ 7^ee . 

long at some of those dark gray walls, and chipped 
off many specimens. 

There were now fewer birds and animals, except 
very small species, such as squirrels, and a variety 
of weazel, quick in its movements and reddish in 
color. 

‘^This begins to look promising,” remarked John, 
as he crawled around the ledges. 

‘‘Do you think we shall find any caves here*?” 
asked George. 


168 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


shall be very much surprised if we do not/’ he 
answered. 

Isn’t it singular that the natives never knew 
about them, if there are any here I ’ ’ 

‘‘No; I do not think that is strange; they do not 
believe in the witch doctors, and they have no Krish- 
nos here, so that the caves are of no value to them.” 

‘ ‘ But do you find much that is valuable in the way 
of ores!” 

“The hills here are full of the most valuable min- 
erals. The little prospecting I have done is sufficient 
to satisfy me on that point. I am trying to make a 
fair estimate so I can give an accurate report when 
we return.” 

It was late in the afternoon when they reached the 
summit of the mountain which they had viewed from 
the south. It was green to the very summit, and 
from the elevation where they stood they could see 
a long and narrow stretch to the north, the distance 
in that direction being much farther than they had 
traveled from the little bight of land on the south. 

“It does look inviting in that part of the island,” 
said Harry. “Were you ever there, in the had 
place!” asked Harry as the Chief’s S|Dn came up. 

“No; but I have heard much about it.” 

One of the natives who heard the conversation 
said : “ It is a beautiful place. ’ ’ 

“Have you ever been there!” he was asked. 

“I was a guard on two occasions when we took 
prisoners there, ’ ’ he answered. 

“Tell us about it,” said George. 


A CONVICT COLONY OF NATIVES 169 


‘‘I have never been in the village, but within an 
hour’s march of it. The Chief warned us never to 
go into the place itself.” 

Aside from the village the place which interested 
John and the hoys most was the mountain on which 
they were now standing. This must be explored. It 
was now late in the afternoon, and at John’s sugges- 
tion they encamped, and only short excursions were 
made by the boys in the quest for something new. 

It was a delightful night. The elevation gave 
them the advantage of a beautiful breeze, and the 
odors wafted to them, from some unknown source, 
on the mild trade wind from the north, was almost 
like a narcotic, so soothing and restful. 

^‘Did you ever visit a more delightful spotT’ 
asked Harry, as he inhaled the beautiful perfume. 

‘Ht does not seem to me that the criminal colony 
is in a very bad place, if this is any indication of it. 
Isn’t that way of dealing with crime a strange 
thing?” remarked George. 

‘ ‘ Why so ? ” asked John. ‘ Hs it anything peculiar 
for the wrongdoers to be banished from a commu- 
nity?” 

‘‘No; but it seems wrong to condemn the innocent 
women and children. Why should they be punished 
along with the guilty ? ’ ’ 

“Probably, in the majority of cases, the women 
and children would prefer to accompany their hus- 
band and father. That does not seem to be so cruel, 
when it is considered that they are left free to live 
as much so as in their own community.” 


170 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


‘ ‘ That is what I cannot understand. What is the 
use of sending them away, if they are not locked 
npU^ 

‘ ‘ Do you not know that among the ancients, banish- 
ment from a country was the greatest punishment; 
greater even than death, in the opinion of many ; and 
there are many cases where suicide was preferable. 
The odium of banishment was so great in those days 
that only the strongest and the greatest of men could 
live it down.^’ 

^‘It makes me feel, when I smell this delightful per- 
fume, that the home of the bad people over there 
must be a beautiful place,’’ said George. 

<<To give such an opinion, just because of the 
fragrance that comes from the north is proper for a 
sentimentalist,” said John, as he laughed. 

‘‘Well, that is a pretty big name to give, and I 
suppose it means having some notion that hasn’t any 
sense in it, but just theory!” 

“That is a fairly close description, but I didn’t 
mean it in that way.” 

The boys never felt resentful at anything that John 
might say, as they knew and appreciated his noble 
character and disposition too well not to understand 
that his remarks were never born of malice. 

After a restful night preparations were made for 
a complete survey of the mountain, if it might be so 
dignified. Its greatest altitude did not exceed eight 
or nine hundred feet, and the width of the island at 
this point did not exceed two miles. It was quite 
rugged toward the east, but on the western side of 


A CONVICT COLONY OF NATIVES 171 


the island the descent was sloping, and offered easy 
examination. 

The natives were instructed what to do, and were 
told that they should particularly hunt for caves, or 
great holes, or entrances into the hills. Four search 
parties were thus organized, John being at the head 
of one, and George, Harry and Sutoto, each being a 
leader in the others. 

Sutoto was most competent for work of this kind, 
as he had accompanied the boys on many expe- 
ditions, and was anxious to be of service in the 
quest. 

John took a direction to the northeast, and Sutoto 
to the southeast, thus leaving Harry and George with 
their parties to explore the region to the west, and 
northwest. 

‘ ‘ As they were separating George slyly remarked : 
^^John must have had some particular reason for 
taking the direction he did.’’ 

Harry smiled. hope we shall find the first 
caves.” 

Before separating John told them that he was 
desirous of finding a cavern which had certain pe- 
culiar markings therein, and the description showed 
it to be Cross-shaped. This must not be forgotten. 

They entered into the undertaking with the great- 
est enthusiasm. 

The boys simply danced, as they went down the 
hill, so great was the joy and the freedom of that 
beautiful spot. What a wonderful sensation is pro- 
duced by beautiful odors. It is like a thought which 
108 


172 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


transports you. On the other hand, when the odors 
nre disagreeable how it depresses and disgusts. 

A great French physician has said that in his 
■observations, the real happy people are those who 
delight in beautiful odors; and while it is not true 
that criminals are devoid of the elevating influence of 
delightful perfumes, still, they are less influenced 
thereby. 

In a number of tests made some years ago, a curi- 
ous fact was observed : Sweet odors were allowed to 
reach sleeping patients, which, when they did excite 
dreams, made them feel that they were living in a 
world of bliss, and surrounded by all the luxuries of 
life. On the other hand, when exposed to evil smell- 
ing odors, they dreamed of miseries, and of trouble 
and disgrace. 

It was understood that the different expeditions 
were to report at the camp at midday, and that in 
the event of any accident, or other mishap, the firing 
of the guns would be sufficient warning to the party 
at the camp and to those who were searching. 

George had with him two of his own ‘‘boys,’’ and 
two of the natives, and Harry was also accompanied 
by several of his particular favorites. Harry, with 
his party, was the energetic one, as he was exceed- 
ingly wiry and a good walker. He did not intend to 
permit the others to encroach on any of his territory. 

Not a vestige of anything was found which even 
so much as pointed to a cave or to the sign of human 
occupancy in that section. George, on the other 
hand, was more fortunate. In his area the shelving 


A CONVICT COLONY OF NATIVES 173 

rocks ■were more numerous, and lie also knew that 
the rocks were limestone, and that caves were more 
likely to exist in limestone formation than in trap 
rock, or either in granite or sandstone formations. 

He was, therefore, fully prepared, when, in the 
early part of his investigation, to find, what appeared 
to he entrances, but in all cases they were blind leads, 
— that is they led in for short distances only, many of 
them being mere cleavages of the rocks. 

The real cave is the one where the limestone is 
eaten out by the erosive action of the water attacking 
the calcium of the rock. Furthermore, he felt that 
he must go down nearer sea level to be assured of 
success, and he acted on that impulse. 


CHAPTER XIV 


A WHITE PAKALYTIC IH THE CONVICT COLONY 

It would be useless to recount the experiences of 
all of the parties. They had four hours of search \ 
before them. This would, at least, give some idea J 
as to the nature of the mountain, and enable John to | 
decide whether it would be wise to give that project 
further consideration. ’HlJ' 

At midday the parties began to appear, first iV 
Harry, then Sutoto, followed by John, and finally 'x 
George. The latter was the only one who was smil- 
ing. The three early parties had no news to im- i 
part. y 

‘AVhat have you found?’’ were the hailing words 
of George, as he approached. 

^ ^Nothing ! nothing ! ’ ’ were the answers. ^ 

^Ht takes me to bring home the goods,” he re- .-f 
marked, and Harry laughed in derision. r 

‘^Xo; but I mean it,” he continued. have cap- |' 
tured a modern, good-sized cave, and it is now await- c 
ing to be explored.” M 

John could not believe the tale. ‘‘You are to be fi 
congratulated. Good boy!” Needless to add, 
George was the happiest person in that camp. | 

“Let us go down to see it at once,” said George in 

174 


WHITE PAEALYTIC IN COLONY 175 


his eagerness. is quite a distance, as it is not 
more than five hundred feet from the seashore.’’ 

‘‘Luncheon first,” remarked John, and no one in- 
terposed an objection, as the trip had sharpened the 
appetites of all. . 

The meal over little time was lost in making a 
start, and George led the way with his boys. Truly 
enough, there was the open mouth, and it was cave- 
like. Now for the mysteries within. “We went in 
only about a hundred feet, so as to be sure we weren’t 
fooled,” said George, in reference to his discovery. 

The lamps were then prepared, and all the prep- 
arations made, the boys being veterans in this sort of 
work, and John was ahead, as was generally the cus- 
tom in these expeditions. 

“This is as far as we went,” said George. Be- 
yond was still a wall which glistened from the 
streaming lights. 

Gradually the walls came closer together; the 
track was a narrow one; so they had to march in 
single file. John called a halt. “I am afraid this is 
a blind hole,” he said, but George could not believe 
it, so the side walls were searched, for indications of 
some opening. 

“This is the end of the cave. Note the side walls. 
If they should be pressed against each other they 
would fit exactly, showing that it is an opening 
caused by a fissure and not by erosion.” 

Harry could not help but laugh. All this time lost 
on a blind lead, and the laugh was on George. 

Harry could not help jesting him. “If you are a 


176. ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 

good tribe finder it is no sign that caves are in your 
line. ^ ’ 

John enjoyed the laugh on George, but the latter 
retorted: think the joke is on you, for traveling 

all this distance to see a hole in the ground. ’ ’ 

There was not the sign of a cave on the island, 
aside from the one discovered (‘^) by George, so the 
party remained that night at the mountain top, and 
in the morning descended the hill, and slowly 
marched to the north. Before noon they entered a 
beautiful stretch of woodland, with luxurious grass 
growing all around in profusion. 

‘^This is as far as the guards have been permitted 
to go, ’ ’ said one of the natives, who had volunteered 
the information about the place the day before. 

Thus far not a human being was visible. An 
hour’s march would bring them to the village of the 
criminals, and the boys began to examine their 
weapons, and to look apprehensive. 

The wild fruits of the tropics were now seen in 
abundance in every direction. Bananas, the Bread 
Fruit, Cocoa, and Date Palm, on every hand. 

The most astonishing thing, however, was the pro- 
fusion of flowers, of every variety, seemingly, and 
the air was scented as with one vast bouquet. 

Sutoto stopped and pointed ahead : ^ ^ They are in 
the trees gathering fruit.” The party halted, and 
looked, and then proceeded. 

They were, undoubtedly, the first of the criminals. 
A half mile beyond, and in a plain road, were several 
of the inhabitants. Those in the trees, two men and 


WHITE PAEALYTIC IN COLONY 177 


a boy, descended, and, together with two women,, 
walked across the field, to witness the newly-arrived 
criminals, as they supposed. 

They were astounded at the appearance of the 
party. The Chief ^s son addressed the men, and told 
them who they were, and their mission. As this was 
the first time that such a visit had ever been made, 
the man instructed the boy to run to the village and 
inform the people, and he scurried away. 

Meantime the party moved on, and, as they pro- 
ceeded, more and more of the inhabitants were seen. 
To the right were people in the fields, engaged in 
some sort of work there. This was singular. Noth- 
ing of that kind was seen in the village where Beral- 
see was chief. 

‘ AVhat is the name of this town where the convicts 
liveT’ asked Harry. 

‘^Hutoton,’’ replied Calmo. 

‘‘And what is the name of your town!’’ 

“Sasite.” 

“Eather queer names, I should say,” exclaimed 
Harry. 

John laughed and glanced at Harry, as he said: 
“I wonder how Unity, and Pioneer, and Mayfield, 
and the queer English names sound to them!” 

“Oh, I suppose they have some good reason for 
having such names. ’ ’ 

“Yes ; for the same reason that we apply names to 
certain things. See what a wonderful expression 
there is in the word ‘Harsh,’ and how expressive it 
is compared with its opposite ‘soft’ How the first 


178 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


word grates, and the second comes ont so smoothly. 
Then, compare ‘swifD and ‘slow^; or ^sweeD and 
‘sonr.’ Ugh! I can almost taste the last word.’’ 

John roared, as he saw the serious aspect of 
Harry’s face. But other sights now attracted their 
attention. A group of men and women appeared. 
How strange the natives looked. They were well 
dressed, that is, judged from the people in Sasite, 
and they were people of good deportment, if those of 
the inhabitants that accompanied them were fair 
specimens. 

At the head of the villagers was a man of striking 
appearance, tall, with white hair, such as you would 
call distinguished, because he differed from most 
around him. The women were well clad, and the 
children plump and vigorous in their actions. 

Something must be wrong! These people were 
not criminals! The old man came forward, and 
gave a respectful bow. He looked at John and said 
a few words. Calmo responded, his words when 
translated being: These are friends of my father, 

and they have come to visit you. ’ ’ 

At this the man gave another bow, and John went 
up and held out his hand, which the man took in a 
simple and unaffected manner. 

^^We welcome you to our village,” was his reply. 

The boys looked at each other and relaxed their 
hold on the guns. Was this, after all, the wicked 
place that had been described to them! As they 
marched down to the village they were enchanted at 
the flowers which greeted them on all sides. 


WHITE PARALYTIC IN COLONY 179 


Here and there were garden spots, carefully kept, 
and when the first huts appeared beyond the grove, 
the hoys simply gasped, and could hardly believe 
their senses. Hundreds of Magnolia trees were in 
bloom ; and the gentle breeze blowing in from the sea, 
moderated the rays of the sun, and wafted the odor 
of the plants many miles inland. 

The homes were not rudely built, and, although 
they were on the same general plan of those in Sasite, 
they had every appearance of comfort. 

The head man of the village led them to a more 
pretentious home, probably his own dwelling. This 
was soon confirmed, as they were invited to enter and 
repose themselves on slightly elevated couches, so 
much like Chief Beralsee^s court. 

Within a short time there was a great commotion 
in the village. The boys looked around startled, and 
the old man noticed it, for he turned to Calmo, and 
said: ^‘The villagers are preparing a feast for you. 
Let them go out and mingle with the people. ’ ’ 

The boys were happy at this opportunity of satis- 
fying their curiosity. Sutoto accompanied them, 
and with Calmo, they placed themselves under the 
guidance of a young man named Anasa, who, Calmo 
said, was the son of the old man. 

They passed down the main street, for there was 
some semblance of order in the location of the huts. 
Around the huts were flowers, just as they had seen 
on the path leading from the mountain, and here 
and there patches of growing vegetables. After 
passing one rather attractive looking hut, Anasa 


180 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


paused for a moment, and then turned back, motion- 
ing for them to follow. He entered, and the boys 
saw a villager, and two women within. 

Anasa pointed to the figure of a man seated in a 
chair, and upon seeing it both boys started back in 
amazement. 

‘ ^ That is a white man, ’ ’ cried Harry. 

Anasa nodded, his manner indicating that he felt 
sure that the boys would recognize him as belonging 
to their race. George went up to him, and held out 
his hand. In response the man gave a listless look, 
and slowly raised the left hand, which was grasped 
by George, who said : ‘ H am glad to see you. Who 
are you? We are white, the same as you are.’’ 

The man made no sign, and his arm dropped to 
his side as George relaxed his grasp. Harry touched 
George on the shoulder, as he said : ‘‘There is some- 
thing the matter with him. Ask Anasa about him. ’ ’ 

Calmo put the question, and this was the reply: 
“We found the poor fellow on the beach many moons 
ago. We brought him here, and tried to heal him, 
but he does not speak, and one side of him has no 
life.” 

The man made no show of recognition, and the 
only motion observable was a twitching jerk of the 
left arm, and a slightly swaying motion of the head. 

“John must know about this,” said George. 

“By all means,” was the reply. 

Calmo was told about the wonderful man John, 
and that he should be called at once, so one of the 


WHITE PARALYTIC IN COLONY 181 


accompanying natives was instructed to bring John, 
and be speeded away on the errand. 

George stood outside of tbe but when John came 
up. ‘ ^ Tbis is a remarkable thing. Did they tell you 
about itr’ 

‘‘No.’’ 

“There is a white man here.” 

“Where?” asked John in astonishment. 

“In the hut, and he is paralyzed and cannot 
speak.” 

John did not wait for more, and as he went the 
head man followed him in. Then they told him the 
story, and John stood there and gazed at the man. 
To the boys who were by John’s side he remarked: 
“ I do not know him. I do not think I ever saw him 
before. How long has he been in this condition?” 
The old man responded: “Ever since we picked 
him up on the shore, about tuta romama ago. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ And how long ago was that ? ’ ’ 

George informed him that Calmo received the in- 
formation that it was over two years prior to that 
time, and as John received this information he 
passed his hand over his head, and, turning to Harry, 
said: “We shall, probably, get at the bottom of 
another mystery.” 

“What is it? Why do you think so?” asked 
George in astonishment. 

“Not now; not now!” answered John, wishing to 
defer discussion until they were out of the stricken 
man’s hearing. 


182 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


The latter, however, did not in the least appreciate 
who were before him. He was not at all perturbed 
by his visitors, nor when John quietly passed his 
hand along the poor man^s arm and body to satisfy 
himself of the extent of the paralytic stroke. 

He winced but slightly when the examination of 
the left side was made, otherwise there was no sign 
of comprehension on his part. 

‘^This is a remarkable thing,” said John, as they 
were returning to the old man’s dwelling. 

^^Why, is it a peculiar case?” 

‘^The ailment itself is not remarkable; but there 
is something which passes my comprehension.” 

‘‘What is it?” asked the boys in, unison. 

“These people are savages.” 

“Yes; answered the boys.” 

“And they are criminals,” he said as he stopped 
and looked at the boys, with an earnestness that sur- 
prised them. 

It did not take more words to make them under- 
stand what John meant. These people had taken 
this shipwrecked man, and tenderly cared for him 
during a period of more than two years. This was 
done without hope of reward. John learned later 
on that the natives of the town had made provision 
for the shipwrecked man and had compensated the 
people at whose home he was then living. 

After the evening meal, John walked around the 
village, observing the people, and he found happiness 
everywhere. Everything seemed to be arranged 
according to a system. The old man was not a chief. 


WHITE PAEALYTIC IN COLONY 183 


but was looked upon as tbeir advisor and guide ; but 
he was a criminal, as were all the others in that to^vn. 

That evening when all were present John had the 
first opportunity to talk with the venerable chief of 
the town. 

^ ‘How long have you been here V’ he was asked. 

He was silent for a moment and then answered: 
“Thirty years.’’ 

It must be understood that the questions and 
answers had to be translated and as the natives knew 
nothing about the division of time in months or years 
it was necessary to convert the time which was given 
by nature into terms of years and months. 

Thus, they understood what a day meant, and they 
could calculate time, as all savages do, by the phases 
of the moon, and in many cases they were able to 
indicate time by the position of the sun, in which 
they recognized three phases only, namely, when the 
sun was directly above them, and when it reached the 
extreme northern and southern points. 

“Why were you sent here?” 

“Because I committed a crime.” 

John was almost startled at the frankness of the 
confession, which the old man made without the least 
perceptible show of feeling or shame. 

“Would you like to go back again!” 

“Go back where!” 

“To your home.” 

He looked bewildered for a moment, and then 
answered : ‘ ‘ This is my home. ’ ’ 

“But I mean your old home at Sasite.” 


184 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


The old man shook his head vigorously, and an- 
swered: ‘‘No! no! There is no place like Hu- 
toton. ’ ’ 

“Do you know what ‘Hutoton’ means 

“Yes; it means ‘the place of death/ 

The boys were startled at the reply. J ohn turned 
to them, when he saw their expression, and smiled. 
The old man, too, smiled. 

“Do any of your people want to go backU^ 

He looked surprised at the question. “Do they 
want to go backU’ he repeated the query. “No; 
but you should ask them. I do not know of any one 
who wishes to return. We love our Chief too much 
to wish for such a thing. 

“Do you know what the people in Sasite think of 
this place r’ 

“No; not altogether; I am curious to know.’’ 

“They believe it is a terrible place, and that the 
people who are sent here never have another day 
of peace or happiness.” 

“And have they not changed their opinions? I 
used to think so too, and we believed it of those who 
went before us; but we thought they might have 
changed their opinions, because we felt that people 
were growing better and not worse. It is a long time 
since they sent us real criminals, and we thought 
the Chief’s people were growing wiser and happier.” 

“When did the last criminals come here?” 

“Nearly one year ago.” 


CHAPTER XV 


SAVAGE MAKKIAGE CUSTOMS 

It was impossible to describe the effect of these 
revelations on the boys. It was so different from 
anything they had been led to expect. It brought 
one thing forcibly to their minds ; that because these 
people had committed some crime, or some wrong 
against society, they were still human beings, and 
were worthy of being treated as men and women. 

John related to them that various governments 
had tried the plan of sending convicts to some for- 
eign lands, and placing them in situations where they 
might work out their own salvation ; that all such ef- 
forts were successful, where real opportunities were 
bestowed. 

^^The idea is,’’ remarked John, ‘Hhat they are 
banished from the society in which they resided, or 
in which they were raised, for the purpose of helping 
them. The reason for inflicting punishment on 
criminals has been to protect society but apparently 
no efforts have been made to cure the criminals or 
to help them to better themselves.” 

‘‘I heard the Professor say, at one of the trials at 
Wonder Island, that some scientists consider crime a 
disease,” said George. 

‘^Exactly; now suppose we treated people suffer- 
ing from smallpox, or scarlet fever, or some other 
185 


186 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


like disease, just like we treat criminals, it would 
be regarded as brutal. To lock them up, and de- 
prive them of the pleasures of living, simply to pro- 
tect society, is wrong. 

^‘But the smallpox and scarlet fever patients are 
taken away so they will not give the complaints to 
others,’’ observed Harry. 

‘‘And that is right. I favor that and advocate 
that same thing with criminals. But the patients are 
not deprived of the things they have been accustomed 
to, and they are restored, when cured. It is not so 
with the poor unfortunate who errs. When he does 
come back he is hounded and looked upon as a 
tainted individual, although he may, in heart, be bet- 
ter than his accusers. ’ ’ 

During that day and the next, the natives and those 
who accompanied John associated with each other, 
and had many conversations. What interested them 
was the presence of the unfortunate paralytic who 
was unable to speak for himself. 

The boys did not believe that he was one of the 
crew of the school ship Investigator, What connec- 
tion, if any, did he have with the skeleton they found 
the day before? was another of their queries. 

On the second day they were taken to the beach 
where the white man was found. There, as ex- 
plained, he was found, with wreckage all about, dur- 
ing one of the raging monsoons with which the boys 
were so well acquainted, but aside from that there 
was not a vestige to show his name or where he 
was from. 


SAVAGE MAKRIAGE CUSTOMS 187 


All the clothing worn by him originally, and of 
that there was scarcely any when found, had been 
worn threadbare, and he was now dressed in native 
garments. The chair in which he was reclining was 
undoubtedly from some wrecked ship, and had been 
in the possession of the villagers for years. 

J ohn spoke to the old man concerning the patient, 
and advised him that they would soon call to take him 
away. They would thus relieve them of the burden, 
and endeavor to restore him to health, if it were pos- 
sible to do so. 

The old man was thankful for the kind words ut- 
tered by John, and the latter assured him that before 
many moons passed he would return and show his 
appreciation for their kindness to a fellow creature. 

^^But we do not feel that we have done anything 
which especially merits praise. He is one like our- 
selves, who was in distress, and we helped him.’’ 

‘‘Yes; you have done that which is right. We in- 
tend to reward you not that you should be paid for 
doing whaf is right, but to show that we appreciate 
your noble actions,” answered John. 

The party, after many wishes and hearty good- 
byes, filed out of the village, some of them loath to 
go. 

Calmo was silent. He was not the same as be- 
fore they marched through the village. John no- 
ticed it, but he wisely refrained from commenting 
on the sights they had witnessed. There was clean- 
liness and order in Hutoton; and filth and disorder 
in Sasite. It was impossible to be unconscious of 

109 


188 ADVENTUEE.S ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


the difference between the industry in one place, and 
the utter shiftlessness in the other. 

As it required two days to make the return jour- 
ney, they were absent from Sasite nearly seven days, 
and, according to the calculations, the Pioneer would 
be in from Unity within the next two days. 

During the intervening time the boys roamed at 
will through the island, and on the second day went 
directly south, so as to scour the sea front below 
the village. 

In the afternoon, as they were about to return, 
they saw a sail, George being the first to catch a 
glimpse of it. ‘^The Pioneer/^ he cried, upon which 
they danced about in sheer joy and started for the 
village, which was distant several miles. 

They were almost out of breath when they rushed 
through the village, and cried out the news. Every- 
body was expectant ; all were eager to see the vessel 
come in and Sutoto was the first to reach the landing. 

During the visit of the boys on the island, John 
had a crude dock constructed, and as the Pioneer 
was of light draft, this was not a difficult thing to 
do, so that the passengers could land from the ship 
directly on the solid platform. 

The Chief was among the merry villagers. ‘‘Who 
is that man with the white hairU’ he asked of Uraso. 

The latter was just as much surprised as his ques- 
tioner, when he recognized the Professor, and he in- 
formed the Chief of the treat he would experience in 
meeting him. “He is the Great Wise man, ’ ’ added 
Uraso, “whom everybody loves. 


SAVAGE MAERIAGE CUSTOMS 189 


Muro, too, was astounded as the Professor came 
down. But a still greater surprise awaited the two 
chiefs. Muro^s wife hailed him, and then Uraso^s 
wife waved her handkerchief. This was too much 
for them, and waving aside all dignity they rushed 
forward to greet them. 

The whole thing had been so admirably arranged, 
that no one knew of the affair which had been 
planned by John. Sutoto joined in the merriment, 
but he was too anxious to see Stut to pay much atten- 
tion to the greetings. 

The visitors discreetly refrained from saying a 
word to Sutoto, concerning the coming event. Be- 
sides the Chief’s wives, there were several other 
women, of the Tribes in Wonder Island, together 
with some white men and their wives, who had been 
invited at the request of Blakely. 

The latter greeted John with that hearty expres- 
sion so characteristic of the true commercial man, 
and he was not with John a minute before he was 
plying all sorts of questions about the resources of 
the island, the kind and number of inhabitants the 
nature of the soil, and the possibilities of mineral 
development. 

The Professor came down and was introduced to 
the Chief by Uraso. 

The great burly chief wa-s fascinated. He gazed 
on the Professor and almost gasped, then turning 
to Uraso he said: ‘‘Ah! I know why he is a wise 
man. ’ ’ 

To Uraso this remark was indeed a puzzle; to 


190 ADVENT UKES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


think that the Chief had discovered the secret of the 
wisdom in the Professor ! He was quick to ask why 
he knew it. 

^‘Because he has double eyes.’’ 

Uraso laughed, and turned to the Professor, to 
whom he related the incident. Instantly the Pro- 
fessor removed the glasses, and courteously handed 
them to the Chief, and Uraso adjusted them to the 
Chief’s eyes. 

He glanced around, through the lens, and forced 
out one expression of delight after the other. He 
was oblivious of everything else. He forgot that 
there were dozens of the visitors ready in line to be 
introduced to him; but all enjoyed the great pleas- 
ure he experienced in the new sight. 

But suddenly he stopped in his enthusiasm, and 
with an apology took off the glasses and held them 
up, in the act of handing them back. The Professor 
returned them, and took another pair from his pocket 
which he put on. 

It was not likely that the Chief could have received 
a more acceptable present, as his eyesight was fail- 
ing, and the glasses seemed like the opening of a new 
world to him. Later on the Professor provided a 
pair of glasses better adapted to his sight. 

The Chief then became concerned about the com- 
fort of his guests, so Uraso said: ‘‘Do not feel 
worried about the visitors. They will sleep on the 
vessel where they have comfortable rooms.” 

The Chief could hardly believe the statements, as 
he muttered: “This is, indeed, wonderful.” 


SAVAGE MAERIAGE CUSTOMS 191 


It would require pages to record the incidents that 
came to his attention about the wonders of these 
new people. The surprising thing was, that Uraso, 
and the natives of Wonder Island were dressed like 
the white people and acted like them, and yet he was 
told that all that wonderful change had come about 
in a little over two years ’ time. 

Muro ’s wife was quickly made acquainted with the 
Chief ^s wife, and the day following she had a con- 
sultation with her. Mida, who was Muro^s wife, 
said: do not know whether or not you know of 

Sutoto’s affection for Cinda, but we learned about 
it, and have come over to attend the ceremony.^’ 

Linnea, the Chief ^s wife, smiled as Mida spoke to 
her. ^Wes, I know of it, but the Chief has not yet 
been told.’’ 

It seems that they had very curious and at the 
same time different customs among the various 
tribes, and Mida’s object was to learn what their eti- 
quette called for as to betrothals. Among some of 
the Wonder Island tribes, the Chief was the only one 
who has the right to consent to the marriage of the 
females, although the males could go to other tribes 
and secure wives without the consent of the Chief. 

In other tribes the women, the mothers, are the 
sole judges, and it is not infrequent for the parents 
of the bride to demand a payment, dependent on 
the rank or the riches of the father. 

Then the question of ceremonies is always an im- 
portant one. It would be sacrilegious to perform 
the rite except in exact accordance with the pre- 


192 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


scribed rules. Sometimes those rules are so ex- 
tremely different to those of another tribe that inter- 
marriage between members of such tribes is impossi- 
ble. 

Thus, a Tuolo could never marry a Saboro, nor 
could an Iliya warrior take an Osaga for a bride. 
On all these points the women were adepts. It is 
more than likely, however, that Cinda and Sutoto 
had all that matter fully understood between them. 

‘‘Did Stut tell you about Sutoto!’^ asked George. 

Harry laughed. “No; but I have a good one to 
tell you. What did he say!^^ 

“Well, you know he hired Stut to get him a wed- 
ding outfit, and a present 

“Yes.’^ 

“When the people left the vessel Sutoto sneaked 
back, and hunted up Stut. Of course Stut had the 
package all done up, and he is now taking it over to 
his hut.’’ 

“I have something better than that. Sutoto is 
going to be married to-night.” 

“How do you know!” 

“Cinda told one of her girl friends, and it fright- 
ened her so that she told Uraso.” 

“WLy that would spoil all the plans.” 

“So it would, but Uraso told his sister.” 

“Are you sure of that!” 

“Of course I am; I was there.” 

“What did she say!” 

“She simply said ‘I will take care of that.’ ” 

“Of course she will; she’s a brick.” 


CHAPTER XVI 

SUTOTO AND CINDA^S MARRIAGE; AND THE SURPRISE 

Mida had learned the situation. Their customs as 
to marriages closely resembled that of the Saboros. 
In that tribe the Chief was the sole authority. To 
marry without his consent meant exile for the dis- 
obedient warrior, and for the bride as well. 

Sutoto was a member of the Berees, and there 
the mother was the matchmaker. She prescribed all 
the requirements. The first thing that Mida did was 
to insist that the Chief should be informed of the 
desires of the young people. 

To the delight of the two women he consented to 
the match, and he was then told that the people had 
come over from Wonder Island to take part in the 
ceremony. But when he was told that they intended 
to marry that night, by stealth, his brow was clouded. 

His law was that no one should marry without his 
consent, and he could not believe that Cinda could 
thus attempt to take the matter into her own hand. 
It was hard to think that his own child should be the 
first to break his law. 

‘‘The women pleaded with him, and then Mida 
confided her plan to him. The tribe’s marriage cere- 
mony was a very curious one. First, there must be 
a gift of fruit, then of fowl, and next of game. This 

193 


194 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


must be brought to the door of the bride by the groom f 
blindfolded. 

He must remain blindfolded while she prepares 
them for the table. Not a word must be spoken, or 
they must separate forever. A part of the ceremony 
requires that the invited guests are to resort to every 
sort of device to make them speak. The slightest 
sound by either is a sign that they will quarrel, 
and means the end of the affair. 

If they pass this test, the second comes when the 
bridgeroom’s eyes are uncovered. They are then to 
converse with each other, and they must not for a 
moment relax the talk. Neither has any knowledge 
of the time that this test must continue. There must 
be no faltering, or hesitancy. 

Mida conferred with John and the boys, as she 
told of these necessary requirements, and the boys 
laughed as they listened. 

‘‘What is the object of all that?^’ inquired George. 

John was chuckling at the idea, but it stirred up a 
reminiscence. “That is a custom, in some of its 
features, that I learned about some tribes in central 
Africa. I can see the object of that rite. The tak- 
ing of the gifts blindfolded signifies that he enters 
the marriage state blindly, and that he must do so 
in silence, and without asking any questions.’’ 

“Of course, then, there is not any likelihood of 
them quarreling,” said Harry. 

“That is what the Chief’s wife said,” replied 
Mida. 

“But what does all the talking mean I” 


SUTOTO AND CINDA’S MAEEIAGE 195 


‘‘That is perfectly obvious. To show they can 
perfectly agree, even though they do talk.’’ 

“But that is all before the real ceremony itself,” 
said George. “How do they get married? That is 
the main thing. ’ ’ 

“Why,” said Mida, “that is part of the marry- 
ing. ’ ’ 

“But they haven’t promised anything. Marrying 
is promising.” 

This occasioned another roar of merriment. 
“Yes ; marriage is a contract under our law, but not 
so with these people. The only question with them 
is whether they are suited to each other. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ But suppose they should not want to marry each 
other, or one of them should object,” interposed 
Harry. 

“Ah! don’t you see there is where the prospec- 
tive bride or groom, in that case has a chance. If, 
in the first test he should speak, or in the last trial 
she should fail to keep up the conversation, then it 
would be all off.” 

Mida confided her plans to the Chief and his wife. 
They were assured that Cinda would not think of 
overriding the well-known laws as to the gifts, and 
the two tests, and so it was arranged that Sutoto 
should be permitted to bring his offerings, which 
he would no doubt do, by stealth, while the Chief 
and all the visitors were to partake of the banquet 
on board of the vessel that evening. 

Sutoto and Cinda knew of the arrangements for 
the banquet, and that appeared to be a suitable oc- 


196 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


casion for them. When Sutoto appeared with the 
gifts he and Cinda were to be arrested by the Chief’s 
warriors and brought aboard the vessel, charged 
with violating the law of the Chief in not first ob- 
taining his permission. 

The boys remained ashore, and carefully watched 
the proceedings. How Sutoto got the presents the 
boys did not know, but they had a suspicion that 
Cinda had a hand in it. The boys laughed as they 
saw what a ridiculously short distance he had to go 
in a blindfolded state. 

Securely hidden in what was George’s chamber, 
where he passed the first night of his captivity, they 
saw Sutoto with the otferings. Cinda took them, in 
silence, and disappeared, only to return instantly 
with the smoking viands. 

“I call that quick work,” said Harry. 

^‘Yes, that’s swift cooking,” suggested George. 

They ate in silence. ^‘1 wonder where the brides- 
maid is who intends to make them talk?” 

‘^Why don’t you see her standing behind Cinda?” 

^‘You mean the servant?” 

‘‘Of course.” 

This was almost too amusing for the boys. The 
rites were progressing very satisfactorily. Then 
Cinda removed the bandage, and an ineffable smile 
stole over Sutoto ’s features. 

They connnenced to talk. The maid said a fe\V 
words, but the lovers paid no attention. The cere- 
mony was going along just as a perfect one should, 
when four stalwart warriors rushed in and seized 


SUTOTO AND CINDA^S MAERIAGE 197 


Sutoto. Cinda knew who they were, and she sprang 
at them, as two seized her also. 

One of them addressed a word to Sutoto, and then 
spoke to Cinda, and without further ceremony they 
were taken out through the open portal, and hurried 
) to the ship. 

The boys followed at a respectful distance, and 
when the pair had reached the deck the boys scram- 
bled up, and hurriedly made their way to the large 
room, or cabin, where the Chief and the visitors were 
assembled, and which was brilliantly lighted for the 
occasion. 

The criminals were brought before the Chief, who 
arose, and with a severe countenance began to up- 
braid Sutoto for his crime. Cinda meanwhile 
glanced around at the brilliant sight. She saw noth- 
ing to excite fear. Both were free from the warriors 
and stood there side by side, a handsome couple, as 
every one admitted. 

Sutoto saw the boys. Just like boys are apt to be 
on such an occasion, they could not repress their 
laughter, although it was a silent exhibition of mirth. 
Then Sutoto knew, and so did Cinda, for she was 
not too much abashed to look up at Sutoto, while 
she leaned over and rested her head against him, 
and laid her hand on his arm. 

Then the boys stopped laughing. There was noth- 
ing laughable about it now. It seemed too beautiful 
to laugh at, and when the great Chief went over, and 
rubbed his nose against Sutoto ^s every one knew 
that the compact was sealed. 


198 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


I wish it were possible to describe the delight 
shown in the eyes of the bride and groom when they 
were led to the table containing the wedding gifts 
that came to them from Wonder Island. 

^ ‘ Oh ! I am so sorry ! ’ ’ said Harry. 

Sorry for what? Yes, yes, I know now. We 
have nothing to give Sutoto, as our presents. ’ ’ And 
George said it with genuine grief. 

Most of the articles exhibited were for the use of 
the bride, and designed for the home of the new 
couple ; but there was a fine array of the little trink- 
ets which so delight the feminine heart. 

The party sat down to the feast, with Sutoto and 
Cinda at one end of the table, while Mida presided 
at the other, the Chief being at her right, and his 
wife at her left. 

For the first time in their lives they were to eat 
their food with knives and forks. They were adepts 
with the sharpened stick, which George had noted, 
and there was amusement at the many incidents that 
the new order brought forth. 

^‘1 remember,^’ said George, ‘Ghat the Professor 
told us the Italians, about the year 1700, were the 
first to use forks. 

replied John. ^^As late as the year 1800 
the English did not use the fork, but the knife, for 
conveying food to the mouth; but the new-fangled 
idea, when once introduced, became universal, soon 
after that time ; and it was then the custom for trav- 
elers to carry their own knives and forks when trav- 
eling. ’ ’ 


SUTOTO AND CINDA^S MAREIAGE 199 


The Professor said, addressing the Chief: ‘‘I am 
surprised that you use a fork at the table. While 
we do so universally, it was not originally our cus- 
tom. ’ ’ 

‘‘I can remember,’’ replied the Chief, ‘‘when it 
was not the habit to use any implement, but all were 
required to take food from the same dish with the 
hands. But at that time food was not served hot, 
but allowed to cool. But we found that the eating 
of hot articles became a custom, and then we had 
to use the pointed forks. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ I am curious to know what gives the roast such 
a beautiful flavor!” asked the Chief’s wife. “I am 
told that you do not use leaves for flavoring.” 

“No,” said Mida. “We now use spices, and the 
flavor is made more distinct by adding salt. ’ ’ 

[ “What kinds of spices are used!” 

I ^‘For meats, principally pepper, of which I have 
no doubt you have plenty on your island.” 

Of course, there was coffee, which grew in abun- 
dance in Wonder Island, and numerous trees of 
which had been discovered by the boys of the Chief’s 
island. When this was brought out, and the natives 
first tasted it, there was some doubt on their part as 
to its food value. 

Added interest was given to it when the Chief was 
induced to try it with a bountiful supply of cream 
and sugar. Then these articles attracted their at- 
tention. 

“Is this a fruit!” he asked as a lump of sugar was 
handed him. 


200 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


‘^No, it is made from cane, or from some vege- 
tables/’ 

‘‘Made from vegetables? How can it be made 
from them? There is part of the flavor of fruit, but 
I cannot taste any vegetables in it.” 

Then the Professor explained that all fruit, as well 
as vegetables, had the same taste, and that they took 
out only that part and left the other. 

“But what is this white liquid which you use in 
the new drink?” 

“It is called ‘cream,’ and the cream is made from 
milk?” 

“And what is milk made of?” 

“It is taken from cows, a large animal, that people 
raise for that purpose.” 

As there was nothing on the island that was as 
large as a cow, or that resembled it in any manner, 
the Chief’s curiosity was unbounded. 

“I would like to see the animal from which this 
was obtained.” 

‘ ‘ But we have no animal with us. ” 

‘ ‘ Then it never spoils ? ’ ’ 

“Oh, yes, it will quickly grow sour and unpleasant 
if allowed to remain in a warm place.” 

He looked around in bewilderment, and the Pro- 
fessor seeing his embarrassment, continued: “In 
the ship we have a way to prevent the cream and 
the milk, as well, from spoiling. We will show you 
that.” 

Thus one article after the other called for some 
comment, and explanation. To the natives from 


SUTOTO AND CINDA^S MAERIAGE 201 


Wonder Island this meal was an object lesson of only 
a few of the many things which they had learned 
from the white people. 

But Sutoto and his bride could not be forgotten. 
When the meal was finished, the Professor arose, and 
said: ‘‘I have some news to impart to you. When 
the white people first came to Wonder Island, they 
found Uraso, and Muro, and they were the first to 
come to our aid against powerful tribes.^’ 

‘‘One of their neighbors had at its head a wise 
Chief, Suros, known and respected by friend and 
foe alike, and he readily adopted the ideas of the 
white men, and offered his tribe to save us from 
destruction at the hands of those who were un- 
friendly. ’ ’ 

“Sutoto was the nephew of the wise Chief Suros, 
and I have come to tell you that he is dead, and that 
we have been mourning for him.^’ 

Every one who glanced at Sutoto, saw that it 
greatly affected him. This address was translated 
to the Chief, by Uraso, as the Professor proceeded, 
the latter speaking it in such measured sentences, 
that it could be quickly grasped by the interpreter. 

“We have all been sad, since his death, and we 
shall erect a suitable monument to his memory on 
our return.’’ 

The Chief looked at the Professor, and the latter 
instantly divined that he wanted some enlighten- 
ment. 

“What does the white Chief mean by that I” 

“ It is the custom of the white man to put up some- 


202 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


thing that all the people may look at, for years and 
years afterwards, so as to remind them that he has 
lived, and to tell the people what good he has done. ’ ^ 

^‘And why should the people do thatT’ 

‘^So as to teach people the example, and try to 
make them be good as he was.’’ 

‘‘Do yonr people need to have such examples to 
make them do good?” 

“That may not be necessary,” replied the Profes- 
sor, as he vainly tried to hide the smile that was 
trying to manifest itself. 

“But do you not find it necessary to set the people 
a good example?” asked the Professor. 

For a moment he looked around at the company 
in bewilderment, and he slowly replied: “No, I do 
not think it would do any good. If the people are 
bad, and they want to be bad, it will do them no good 
to tell them that I have always tried to do right.” 

There was a respectful silence, at this avowal, and 
the Professor continued: “There are many who 
think as you do, and we had one great teacher, called 
Confucius, who said: ‘Do good not for the hope of 
reward, but because it is right. ’ Then we have also 
a precept which, interpreted, means : that happiness 
is in the heart.” 

“I do not know what that means,” he replied. 

‘ ‘ It means that the desire and the wish must come 
from wfithin, and not from without.” And the sav- 
age nodded an assent. 

“But,” continued the Professor, “I have some 
news to impart, that makes us all happy again. It is 


SUTOTO AND CINDA^S MAERIAGE 203 


something that pertains to Sutoto, and I know you 
will all join in wishing him all happiness in the good 
fortune which Wonder Island brings to him, while 
this island is vying with us to make him happy. ’ ’ 

'VYliat was this happy thing that the Professor por- 
tended? There was intense eagerness in the eyes 
of all who had left Wonder Island when the Pionejdr 
sailed away, three weeks before. 

‘‘I want to present to you Sutoto, the new Chief 
of the Berees.’’ The Professor could get no fur- 
ther. George and Harry were wild with excitement, 
and they hounded over to him and actually hugged 
him. Poor Cinda did not for the moment know what 
all this excitement meant. 

She supposed that this was the white man’s part 
of the ceremony, and quietly submitted. But she 
was quickly informed, and as she glanced at her 
father and mother, and the people came by and af- 
fectionately greeted them, she was so happy that 
tears actually flowed. 

Then John came forward with a large box, which 
he carefully opened, and drew forth two packages, 
one of which he unwrapped, while Mida took the 
strings from the other. 

^AVe want to present you these tokens, the pres- 
ents of George and Harry. You are to wear these 
as an emblem of your authority.” And George and 
Mida placed the most beautiful crown shaped hats on 
the heads of the couple. 

^Hs this part of the ceremony too?” asked Cinda, 
as she slyly glanced at Sutoto. 

110 


204 ADYENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


It is impossible to say who were the most sur- 
prised people, the boys or Sutoto, since these pres- 
ents had been prepared without their knowledge, 
and it atoned in a way for their neglect in not think- 
ing of the gifts before. 

But there were also other agreeable surprises in 
store for them. The wives of Uraso and Muro led 
Cinda to the table on which the presents were ex- 
posed, and also exhibited the many beautiful gar- 
ments which had been prepared for her. 

Her bewilderment was still greater when she was 
directed to turn, and found herself standing in front 
of a tall oval mirror which the boys had brought up, 
under the Professor’s directions. 

Her image in the mirror startled the bride beyond 
measure, and she innocently asked Sutoto whether 
this was also a part of the wedding ceremony. 

According to the custom of the tribe, the couple 
had to go through the ordeal of the tribal dance, 
and when the boys learned of this they regretted 
that provision had not been made for the event. 
They were now in for everything which belonged to 
this unique wedding. The entire party broke up, 
and the boys regretted that the affair came to an end 
so soon. 

As they filed down the steps and marched along 
the dock to the shore they noticed that the entire 
village was shining brightly with hundreds of the 
native candles, and everywhere were the well-known 
lamps, which the boys knew came from Wonder Is- 
land. 


SUTOTO AND CINDA^S MAEEIAGE 205 


‘‘What does all that meanT’ asked Harry, as John 
came np. 

“That means the dance, that is the final require- 
ment of the wedding ceremony/’ 

“But where are the dancers? Are we to take 
part?” 

“Oh, no; no one who has partaken of the feast 
is permitted to take part.” 

“Well, that is certainly queer.” 

“Not more so than among many white people, 
where the dancers are those who have been specially 
selected for the purpose, and are professionals. In 
Biblical times the Jews had dancing as part of the 
religious ceremony, and that which took place in 
the Temple was participated in only by special ones 
set apart for that purpose.” 

No one was^ in sight, however, and the Chief led 
the entire company to a large green space, not far 
from his dwelling, and after a circle had been 
formed, they heard a peculiar humming sound, which 
seemed to be all about them, and this increased in 
intensity, and when at its height, two dozen or more 
of the native girls rushed in with a gliding, sway- 
ing motion, and circled around with peculiar grace, 
continuously giving forth the weird sounds that have 
been described. 

It was intensely dramatic, and fascinated the boys. 
They had never seen anything so remarkable in its 
character, and for once they were unable to ques- 
tion its meaning, or ask for information concerning 
it. 


206 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


For an hour this continued, until the boys thought 
the performers would certainly drop dead with fa- 
tigue; then, one after the other disappeared, and 
with each disappearance the sound of the humming 
grew less until hut one remained. In some way, 
unknown to the boys she made the last circle around 
the green, hearing a wreath of leaves, and as she 
approached Sutoto and Cinda, wheeled about, and 
threw it over them. 

‘ ‘ That is the final act, ’ ^ said John. ‘ ‘ See, they are 
both within the wreath, and it signifies that they are 
hound together forever, even as the wreath, which 
has no end.’’ 


CHAPTEE XVII 


hutoton; the place of death 

But tlie boys knew that they bad some important 
things to attend to. The pleasures of life have an 
important part, but they were now engaged in serious 
work. The fact that they had accomplished so much 
was a great incentive to go on and investigate other 
things which were still mysteries, and which might 
be of great value to them. 

The coming of the Professor had been a great 
pleasure to them. The developments of the past two 
weeks were ever in their minds and they could not 
repress the curiosity to visit the other islands, if 
such could be found. 

Now that Sutoto was married they knew he would 
not be with them for a time, and they had not talked 
over the future plans. When, the next day, they 
and the Professor and John were together to con- 
sider the next step, it was with joy that the Pro- 
fessor informed them of the purpose of John to con- 
tinue the investigations throughout that part of the 
ocean. 

‘‘It seems that your interpretation of Walter’s 
note was entirely wrong, ’ ’ said J ohn. ‘ ‘ In any event 
it is certain that we are more than thirty leagues 
from Wonder Island, and not in the direction he 
pointed out.” 


207 


208 ADYENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


‘ ‘ Then it is likely that if there is an island which 
will fit the place, it must be to the north,’’ said 
Harry. 

‘^That would be a natural conclusion,” he an- 
swered. ^‘It has occurred to me that the natural 
place for an island would be to the north. ’ ’ 

The boys looked at him with surprise. ‘‘What 
makes you think so?” asked George. 

“I judged so, merely from the conformation of this 
island.” 

“What is there in the island that makes you think 
so?” 

“You have noticed that the island is very narrow 
east and west, and very much longer north and 
south. ’ ’ 

“Yes; but that still does not make it plain to 
me.” 

‘ ‘ The island may be like the ridge of a mountain 
cropping out of the ocean. For instance, the Andes 
and the Sierras in the United States run north and 
south. Now suppose the ocean should cover the 
land, those mountains would form islands which 
would naturally be north and south of each other, 
and the islands themselves would be longer north 
and south than east and west.” 

“I see the idea. But we might find them to the 
south of this island, as well.” 

“Certainly; but as the northern section brings us 
nearer the supposed thirty leagues, we should, I 
think, make the investigation there first. ’ ’ 

It was necessary that Sutoto should go back to 


HUTOTON; THE PLACE OF DEATH 209 


ky Wonder Island. His position as Chief of the Berees 
made this essential. Furthermore, the age of the 
:f Professor made traveling and the hardships of in- 
vestigating on foot a hard task, and besides it was 
necessary to take back the visitors. 

<1/ have suggested to the Chief that we shall re- 

i turn, and have invited him to accompany us, and I 
am gratified to say that he has accepted. We shall, 
therefore, be ready to return within a few days,^’ 
said the Professor. 

^ ‘^Have you said anything to him about the con- 
W templated visit to HutotonT’ asked John. 

S ‘‘No; but I shall do so at once.’’ 

I' “ Oh ! that will give us an opportunity to take the 
if paralytic back with us,” suggested Harry. 

I “Yes; that will be the reason for our stopping 
there.” 

“Wouldn’t it be a good idea to sail to the north, 
and investigate in that direction, on our way home 1 ’ ’ 
S remarked George. 

S’ “That has occurred to me.” 

The Chief gave careful instructions to his son, 
Calmo, in view of his proposed trip, and informed 
the Professor that he was anxious to accompany 
them at the earliest opportunity. 

Two days thereafter, the entire party boarded the 
ship, and the course was set for the northern part 
of the island. There the Chief had the first oppor- 
tunity to see the dreadful place where the criminals 
of his community had been sent. 

There was no resentment on the part of the con- 


210 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


victs. On the other hand, there was the most ef- 
fusive welcome extended, and when the Chief saw the 
happiness and prosperity there, which he could not 
help but contrast with his own people, he was 
amazed. 

The unfortunate patient was carefully taken to 
the ship, and during his removal did not in the least 
indicate by any sign that he knew what was going 
on about him. 

John took many stores from the ship, and par- 
ticularly garments, and articles of food for the peo- 
ple. All participated in the division, and the old 
man was delighted when he saw the gifts, the more 
so when John told him that they would soon be 
visited and other stores provided. 

When the rolling motion of the boat was felt by 
the stricken man, he showed the first symptoms of 
consciousness. Sometimes he would look about him, 
and try to grasp something. On several occasions 
the Professor saw him open his eyes with a sort of 
questioning look. 

But we cannot dwell too long on the result of the 
patient’s progress, at this time. John felt, as did 
the Professor, that from that man they would be 
able to learn something, if he could ever regain his 
faculties. The boys gathered that much from the 
conversation, so that, for the present, he must be left 
to the tender care of the Professor, until later events 
are recorded. 

From Hutoton the ship sailed directly north, it 
being understood that if no land was sighted before 


HUTOTON; THE PLACE OF DEATH 211 


evening it would be useless to go farther in that di- 
rection. The Pioneer was a good sailer, and could 
easily, with a fair wind, make ten miles an hour, 
so they would have fully seven hours ’ run to test out 
their theory of land in that direction. 

Before five o^clock John, who was constantly on 
1 the watch, came to the Professor and remarked that 
^ he believed the haze to the north indicated the pres- 
ence of land. This was soon communicated to the 
boys, and there was no more idleness from that time 
on. 

John^s theory was correct. Slowly certain fixed 
objects appeared and some outlines that looked like 
mountains, and the boys could not repress their 
anxiety at the anticipated shore. 

^ ^ Then we were right, after all, ’ ^ said Harry. 

John smiled, as he replied: ‘‘I do not know; the 
calculations have not yet been made.’’ 

‘H would like to know how our position can be 
found out from an examination of the sun,” re- 
marked George. 

^ ^ That will require a long answer to explain fully 
but I shall try to answer it in a simple manner. The 
sailor takes an observation of the sun in two direc- 
tions, namely, north and south, and east and west. 
You know, of course, that the sun moves north in 
the summer and south in the winter, and that the 
extreme southern point is in midwinter, Dec. 20; 
that in the spring, or March 20, it is directly above 
the equator, and in midsummer, or, on June 20, it 
is as far north as it can go.” 


212 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


‘^You mean/^ said George, ‘Hhat it would be north 
of the equator/’ 

^‘As we have the same calendar over the entire 
world, it is true everywhere. The difference is, of 
course, that summer and winter, and spring and 
autumn are reversed, north and south of the equa- 



tor. All estimates as to locations are made by meas- 
uring angles.” 

‘^Then it must be something like surveying?” 

^‘Yes; the same principles are applied. Here is a 
sketch, which shows the earth A, and B is the equa- 
torial line. C is the position of the sun on Septem- 
ber 20, or on June 20.” 

<‘Why are they in the same position on both 
days?” 

/'Yes; the sun crosses the equator September 20, 


HUTOTON; THE PLACE OF DEATH 213 

on its way south, and then it again recrosses the 
equator coming north six months afterwards. On 
either of those days, if a person should stand at 
D, and look at the sun, there would be a line E, 
which projects out from the earth to the sun, and 
that is called the equatorial line. ’ ’ 

‘Ht is exactly at right angles to F, which passes 
through the poles. Now the » drawing shows two 
other positions, namely Gr and H. These represent 
the extreme points of the travel of the sun north 
and south, or the positions that the sun occupy on 
Dec. 20, and June 20 of each year.^’ 

see,’’ said Harry. ‘‘The points G and H are 
just 23 degrees north and south of the equator.” 

‘ ‘ That is correct, and there is another thing which 
can be learned from their positions.” 

“I know what it is.” 

“What?” 

“It gives another line, or angle.” 

“So now we have two angles, this, and the equa- 
torial line. Then, we know the exact distance of the 
sun from the earth, and this gives the first measure- 
ment, and with the angle formed by the line I, taken 
in connection with the line E, it is easy to determine 
just where, or how far the sun is to the north or to 
the south, and if ybu did not, for instance, know 
the time of the year, a man could by such a measure- 
ment, tell, by the angle thus formed, the exact date.” 

“I understand that now,” remarked George. 
“The sailor, in getting the angle, simply measures 
that, and if he knows where the sun is on that day 


214 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


lie will then have two angles, one that he knows be- 
forehand, and the other that he finds out by looking 
at the sun. ’ ^ 

‘‘That is correct. The Nautical Chart gives all 
that information, so that it saves a large amount of 
work in making the calculations. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ That gives the way to determine positions north 
and south. But how about east and west ? ’ ^ 

“In the same manner exactly so far as the angle 
measurements are concerned, but in this case, in- 
stead of taking the time, in days or in months, as in 
reckoning north and south, we must take time in 
minutes, and to do that the entire globe is laid off 
in minutes and degrees, which the nautical tables 
give, and the mariner knows when he obtains a cer- 
tain angle just how far east or west he is located by 
the chart. 

“But if he has no charts’ 

‘ ‘ Then he must figure out the position for himself, 
which he can do if he has what is called Greenwich, 
or standard time, and has, also the correct time of 
the day where his ship is.’’ 

Land was beyond; there was no question of that. 
It rose out of the water higher than the island they 
had just left, which the boys had named Venture Is- 
land. 

The Chief knew nothing of the land before them. 
He had told John that years before he learned that 
there was a land where there were many bad people, 
who killed and ate each other, but he did not know 
the exact direction. 


HUTOTON; THE PLACE OF DEATH 215 


The vessel was sailed along the coast, and the 
field glasses were used to scan the land. It had the 
appearance of the other islands which they now 
knew. Vegetation was magnificent, and growing 
everywhere, but there was not the sign of a habita- 
tion anywhere. 

After an hoards sail they rounded a point, and 
beyond was the first cove, or indentation along the 
coast. To that John directed the course of the ves- 
sel, and they ran in very close, since he knew from 
the abrupt sloping beach that it must be a deep bay. 

The men could scarcely man the boat quickly 
enough. A dozen of them, together with John, Muro 
and Uraso, took the first boat, while a second boat 
was filled with the warriors who also were accom- 
panied by some of the natives of Venture island. 

The Professor and the others remained on board, 
while the party made the preliminary examinations 
of the immediate neighborhood. John formed two 
parties, one under command of Muro, and the other 
of Uraso. The boys were with Uraso, while he was 
with Muro. The object was to find out as quickly 
as possible what they would have to meet, and the 
result would enable them to determine the future 
plans. 

‘Ht is understood, now,’’ remarked John, ‘Hhat 
, the two exploring parties shall take the two courses 
outlined, Muro and his men, to go directly east, 
while Uraso will take a course to the northeast, and 
i proceed in that direction for three hours, and then 
j the two parties are to turn toward each other, and 


216 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


mutually report. This will give us an opportunity 
to find out something, unless the island is a very 
large one, and requires subsequent exploration to 
ascertain whether it is inhabited.’^ 

John had purposely selected the route to the east, 
as he saw the high elevation in that direction, and 
George laughed, as he said, slyly: ‘^John is still 
after the caves,’’ and Harry laughed, as he recalled 
the keenness with which John had arranged the trips. 

John did make his way to the highest points, and 
soon learned, from the observations, that the island 
was inhabited, but the trip of the boys was more ex- 
citing, so we shall more particularly detail theiri 
adventures. 

Before they had gone two hours evidences grew 
thick and fast that tribes inhabited the island, 
Muro, and the different men, were continually find- 
ing traces, none of them, however, which indicated 
that the people were near at hand, or that the tell- 
tale marks had been recently made. 

But now signs began to be apparent to the boys 
also; the bones of animals, lying around the spot 
where a fire had been gave them the first real sensa- 
tion. Muro glanced at the boys, and at some bones, 
and the action on his part was so peculiar, that 
George quietly remarked : 

‘‘Muro looked so peculiarly at me when I glanced 
at the bones, over there, that I wonder what he 
meant 1 ’ ’ 

“I saw it too,” answered Harry. “Let us have 
another look at them;” and acting on the suggestion 


HUTOTON; THE PLACE OF DEATH 217 


they went over. Mnro followed. They did not ap- 
pear to pay any attention to him; bnt he was quick 
to join them, and as he did so he slowly nodded his 
head. 

‘^Are they human remains T’ said Harry, as he 
turned to Muro, questioningly. 

‘‘Yes; and this is not the first we have seen,’^ he 
answered. “We may find them now at any time. 
I am now sure that there are several tribes here.’’ 

“What makes you believe so?” 

“Because we have found different kinds of hair, 
which is usually the best evidence of the differences 
in the tribes, as each has its own peculiarity.” 

“Savages, and cannibals!” said George reflec- 
tively. 

“But we must go on. We have still an hour in 
this direction before we turn to the south and east,” 
said Harry. 

There was more caution now exercised, and the 
speed was accordingly reduced, in view of the espe- 
cial care which they took. In order to understand 
what happened the reader should know something of 
the nature of the country. 

Some places in Wonder Island had the same sort 
of timber and undergrowth, and they went through 
some dense forests, in which vines and small brush 
made traveling difficult. They had to cut their way 
through some of this vegetation. 

The land was not low or flat. If it had been there 
would have been a dense jungle. Sometimes they 
passed through half-grown forests, and these places 


218 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


were the most difficult to scour, because an enemy 
might be within fifty feet, and not be discovered. 

It was in just such a place that they received their 
first surprise; a shower of arrows, so thick that 
they instantly knew it could not have been made by 
only a dozen or so. Some of the arrows found their 
marks, and two of the men sank down, while Muro 
coolly drew one of the crude missiles from his arm. 

‘^Drop down!’’ cried Muro. 

There was not a savage in sight ; still a number of 
arrows fell around them. ‘ ‘ Eemain quiet, and I will 
find them?” said Muro, as he crept forward quietly 
through the dense grass. 

George and Harry followed, although it was evi- 
dent it was not Muro’s wish. Before they had gone 
ten feet, Muro turned, and pointed ahead. ^^They 
are there; at least one party. Get ready for a 
shot.” 

The savages, noting the quiet in their front, now 
cautiously peered through the bush, and the boys 
saw the most hideous countenances. ^‘We might 
give them a round,” said Muro, and after carefully 
aiming, the guns spoke. 

The simultaneous explosion of the three guns, 
raised pandemonium on all sides. They were now 
surrounded by at least a hundred of the savages, but 
for some reason the little party of twenty awed them, 
and instead of making a charge, they rushed toward 
the place where the three victims of the gunshots 
lay. 

Muro’s arm was bleeding profusely, and George 



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HUTOTON; THE PLACE OF DEATH 219 


quickly bound it up, while the enemy were hesitating. 
‘‘Do not shoot, unless they rush at us. I will talk 
to them, and try to get an understanding.’’ 

Then, in a loud voice Muro called to them, saying 
they were friends, and not enemies. There was no 
response. Thinking that they knew nothing of the 
dialect, he tried another, and the only response was 
the evident determination of the savages to attack 
again. 

The boys and Muro could plainly hear their chat- 
tering, but the latter said that what they were say- 
ing was not intelligible to him, and that they must 
now prepare for a fight. 

“Get your guns ready, and be prepared for a 
charge. If they come so close that you cannot use 
the guns, then we must be prepared to meet them 
with our knives, and we must all stand together, and 
not become separated. ’ ’ 

Instead of attacking, however, there was silence,, 
after the first excitement. “They are trying to find 
out what struck their comrades when we fired,” re- 
marked Muro. 

“Yes; I think it was a big surprise.” 

“I recall,” continued Muro, “when we had our 
first brush with you that we could not find the arrow 
which we supposed was made by your bullet. That 
frightened us more than anything else.” 

There was not the slightest movement on the part 
of an enemy for a full half hour. This is the most 
trying sort of tactics. If you can see the enemy, or 
note that he is doing something, there is some relief 
111 


220 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


to the tension, but where he can neither he seen, nor 
heard, it tries the nerves of the strongest man. 

Mnro knew that this inactivity on the part of the 
savages had its purpose. Probably, they intended to 
remain there until night, and overwhelm them in 
the rush. Muro had other plans, however. 

^‘We cannot remain here. We must make the at- 
tack. Eemain here, and permit me to feel out their 
positions, and also to determine what they are do- 
ing.’’ He glided away from them noiselessly, and 
how he kept the tall grass and weeds from swaying, 
the boys could not determine at that time. 

It did not take Muro long to see the situation. 
They were surrounded by a cordon of savages, and 
w^hile spying, saw a new lot of them coming up. The 
plan was plain enough, and it meant a fight now, or 
a night defense. 

When he returned, he had his plans formed. 
^^They are being reinforced, and we have, probably, 
a hundred and fifty, or more, around us. John is, 
no doubt, too far away to come to our assistance, 
and our only hope is to attack them now, so we 
might as well take the necessary steps.” 

While on his investigations Muro had discovered a 
fallen tree, which was not more than fifty feet to 
fheir left. ^‘We must reach that tree, and by dig- 
ging a shallow trench at one side, can easily defend 
ourselves, as well as pick them off at our leisure. ’ ’ 

Slowly they moved, in crawling attitudes, toward 
the place indicated. The tree was not a large one, 
but it made an admirable breastworks, and with their 


HUTOTON; THE PLACE OF DEATH 221 


knives each man dug ont a shallow hole, piling np 
the earth beyond the hole, so as to shelter them from 
the arrows, which they knew would be rained on 
them. 

This work required a full half hour, and when 
it was completed, and Muro had satisfied himself 
that each one was supplied with sufficient ammuni- 
tion, he was ready for the second stage of the game. 

‘AVe must attract them, by some form of action. 
I will take three with me, and crawl forward, until 
we can catch glimpse of some of the watchers. 
Those we will attack, and then fall back, and do the 
same on the other sides. 

Muro indicated those who were to follow, and 
after going only a short distance the boys heard the 
shots, then four more. This brought the sounds of 
voices from every direction. Muro and his men, 
during the excitement, crawled to another portion 
of the line, and repeated the manoeuver. 

This, for the moment threw them into consterna- 
tion, but they quickly rallied, and now it was plain 
that they were pressing forward to rush the position 
occupied by the boys. It was now obvious that the 
precaution of making the defensive position, as 
Muro had suggested, was their only salvation. 


CHAPTEE XVm 


DISCOVEKY OF A NEW ISLAND, AND A SAVAGE TEIBE 

Nothing could describe the uproar that the second 
volley created in the ranks of the besiegers. Yell 
after yell came from the hundreds of throats that 
were about them. It was now war to the end. 
There could be no compromise. 

While the boys had been in many difficult and try- 
ing experiences before, this was the first time that 
they grew pale, and had strong misgivings. They 
knew, however, that the object of the shrieks and 
yells of savages were for the purpose of driving 
terror into the hearts of their foes. 

In this respect it might not thus affect them, but 
when they considered the overwhelming numbers 
around them, we cannot blame them for feeling 
alarmed. 

They were coming forward, and on all sides. 
‘‘Eemember, what John used to tell us : it is the shots 
that hit which count. Fire deliberately, and keep 
together. Do not use your revolvers until they are 
close, and you cannot use the guns.^’ 

Closer and closer they came, and Muro and the 
men were silent. ‘‘Now, get ready! Shoot delib- 
erately ! ’ ’ 

The first salvo was fired. It was a staggering 
222 , 


DISCOVERY OF A NEW ISLAND 223 


blow. They reloaded, while the enemy was trying 
to recover, and the second volley belched forth. 

Then, when the execution was noticed, and they 
saw their people fall all about them, they charged 
forward in one mass, and the boys looked at each 
other, for a moment, and George reached over and 
gave Harry’s hand one pressure, and then turned 
away and began to fire as fast as he could aim the 
weapon. 

They were still coming on. The demons were 
nearly up to the log. For some reason the savages 
did not heed those who fell. It had not struck ter- 
ror into their hearts, as the boys hoped. How would 
this end? The enemy was now too close to make 
their guns of any use. The revolvers were drawn, 
and the cracks from them became almost a continu- 
ous roar. 

They were still coming. Soon the ammunition 
would be gone. The boys realized this. They were 
determined to die fighting, and they began to feel 
for their knives which must be the final act in the 
great tragedy. 

Then they heard something louder than the cracks 
of their own weapons and the shrieks of the devils 
around them. Some one was shooting. They could 
see the startled faces of the savages, as they turned 
and swung around. The attack ceased, and Muro 
sprang up on the log, with a yell. 

Could he be mad? The boys were stupefied. 
‘‘Come on!” cried Muro. “Here is John!” 

This announcement, coming at an unexpected mo- 


224 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


ment, was such a reaction to the poor boys, that they 
could hardly raise themselves. Another volley ; they 
could hear it now. There was another yell from 
the savages, and then they could be seen rushing 
through the brush. 

The men with John ran up, and John struggled 
forward through the weeds. ‘‘Are you hurtU^ 
asked John, as he sprang to the side of the boys. 

“No! no!^’ cried George, and he fell down, over- 
come with the excitement, while Harry could not 
speak for a moment. 

“That was a close call,’^ said John. “We heard 
the first shots an hour ago, and we turned to take this 
direction. Then we heard nothing for a long time, 
and as we were coming over the hill beyond the 
firing commenced but we could see nothing, so we 
hurried forward and soon saw the smoke, and then 
the savages coming from the bush, and directly to 
the east we noticed fifty or more coming this way, 
but they are not here yet.’’ 

‘ ‘ I wonder how many attacked us ? ” asked George. 

“It is difficult to tell, but it is safe to say that 
there were at least two hundred in the fight. Oh, 
no; the boys will not follow them up very far,” said 
John, as Harry looked apprehensively toward the 
direction that John’s men were going. 

He blew the whistle, and gradually the men strag- 
gled in, reporting that the savages appeared ter- 
ror-stricken, as they had had no idea that there was 
another force in the neighborhood, and they did not 
stop to consider the possible number. 


DISCOVERY OF A NEW ISLAND 225 


am sorry for these poor people,’^ remarked 
John. ^‘We must hunt up the wounded.^’ 

Searchers were set to work, and the wounded, 
when found, were carried to an open place beyond, 
and their hurts examined and bandaged. At first 
terror showed itself on their faces, but as John and 
Muro, together with the boys, washed their wounds, 
and wrapped bandages around the limbs, they lay 
there and marveled at the actions of their enemies. 

More than two dozen had been killed, and forty- 
two wounded, nearly all in the legs or bodies, those 
having arm wounds being enabled to get away. 

On Muro^s orders a watch was set on the move- 
ments of the savages, and from time to time reports 
were brought in concerning them. They had re- 
treated eastwardly, and were now off less than a half 
mile, where they were assembled, and evidently de- 
bating the situation. 

John and Muro well knew that their present force, 
now numbering forty-one, and all well armed, would 
be more than a match for the savage force, still, it 
would not be advisable to prolong the explorations 
for the day, as it was desirable to report the situa- 
tion of affairs to the Professor. 

After making the sufferers comfortable they 
started on the march back to the ship. During the 
period while caring for the wounded, John and 
Muro tried to engage the savages in conversation 
but all attempts to learn their language failed, and, 
as they were about to leave, J ohn said to Muro : 

‘‘Do you think that man is a chief P’ 


226 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


‘‘I know he is; I spotted him from the first, and 
saw from his actions, and the fact of his being 
obeyed, that he was a man of some authority. ’ ^ 

agree with you,’’ said Uraso, ‘‘that he is the 
one we must take with us.” 

A litter was quickly improvised and the savage 
gently laid on, and with this, as their only encum- 
brance, they started for the return march. Five of 
the men had been wounded, all in the arms and body, 
and none of them dangerously, so that there was no 
trouble in the march. 

They filed out to the west, avoiding as much ex- 
posure as possible. Muro’s men had been on the 
observing line, and at Muro’s suggestion they occa- 
sionally showed themselves, so as to assure the na- 
tives that they were still holding their ground. 

As the two forces were starting for the ship, Muro 
prepared a decoy, so that the savages could see what 
appeared to be two figures. Then he hurriedly told 
John what he had done, and the march began, as 
rapidly as possible, at first, and a rear guard was 
provided to watch the movements of their ene- 
mies. 

Two miles beyond the scene of the fight the party 
halted, and George was assisted to climb a tree, 
from which point they might be seen. 

“I can see them plainly,” he called down. “They 
are now around the wounded. I cannot see what 
they are doing, but there is a big crowd.” 

He waited for some time, and then cried out: “I 
believe they are coming this way. I think it is time 


DISCOVEEY OF A NEW ISLAND 227 


for us to be moving/’ And George slipped down, 
as John gave the order to go on. 

The rear guard, with John and Uraso, were now 
following up behind the marchers. ^ ‘ Go on, without 
stopping,” he said, as they took up their positions. 

The boys begged to be permitted to remain with 
the rear guard, but John refused to have them ex- 
posed. In an hour and a half they ascended an ele- 
vation from which the ship could be seen in the bay 
to the southwest. 

During that time only once had the runner re- 
turned from John to notify them of the progress of 
the natives. The last information, therefore, was 
about a half hour before, and it was now obvious that 
the savages were determined to follow them up, and 
this would bring them within view of the vessel. 

Before descending the last declivity that led to the 
beach, John and the Chief appeared, and told the 
boys that all of the tribe was behind them, and that 
the cause of the pursuit was, unquestionably, to re- 
cover the Chief who had been taken along. 

At the suggestion of John three shots were fired 
to attract the attention of those on the boat, while 
several of the fleetest runners speeded down the 
beach and quickly advised the Professor of the sit- 
uation. 

Two boat loads of warriors were quickly sent to 
shore, and when John and the party with him came 
up to the beach, the savages had reached the crest 
of the hill, and ranged up in line, but halted to wit- 
ness the spectacle before them. 


228 ADYENTUEBS ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


The wounded chief was taken to the vessel, and 
the Professor immediately gave him the best care, 
but he remarked: ‘^This man is desperately 
wounded, and will require the best of attention to en- 
able him to pull through/’ 

All the men were finally placed on board, and their 
experiences related. An immediate consultation 
was held. John and the boys insisted on remaining 
with a sufficient force to enable them to carry out 
their explorations, but the Professor seemed to op- 
pose it. 

quite agree with you that, from what John has 
said, there are reasons aside from the cannibals 
over there, why we should explore it from one end to 
the other.” 

The boys cast a side glance at John. Did John 
find something that made him so insistent to remain? 
They repressed their curiosity, however, for the time. 
To their minds they thought the natives were the 
incentive, notwithstanding the terrible fight they had 
just engaged in, although they were willing to take 
the risk. 

But it was finally settled. John was to have the 
force now on board, and he, with the boys, was to 
explore, and, if need be, to conquer the natives on the 
island. The Pioneer would, in the meantime, sail to 
"Wonder Island, and return with food and ammu- 
nition, and reinforcements. 

There was thus left at their disposal fifty-five men, 
with a fair supply of ammunition. Uraso and Muro 
were to be of the party, as events just related showed 


DISCOVERY OF A NEW ISLAND 229 


that there was serious work to do before they might 
be able to return. 

That night, while making the final arrangements 
on the vessel, the boys sought John, and asked him 
more particularly concerning his trip. 

‘‘We have had no opportunity to speak to you, 
but the Professor said you had learned enough about 
the island to determine you to explore it fully,’’ said 
George. 

“That is true. I have found what I believe to be 
the identical spot described in the charts, and I have 
found the solution, I think, of Walter’s note and of 
the skull.” 

This was, indeed, something of importance to 
them, but John informed them that for certain 
reasons it might be better to defer the explanation 
until they had made the final explorations. 

The boys knew he must have some pretty good 
reason for thus explaining and laying the matter 
before them, and they forebore further questionings. 

The next morning, when all the supplies and am- 
munition had been taken off, and the final good-byes 
were said, the party stood on the shore while the 
Pioneer slowly moved out, and was soon racing be- 
fore the wind on its way to Wonder Island. 

A council was held before they attempted to march 
into the interior. “I have every reason to believe 
that the band which we met yesterday is in the imme- 
diate vicinity, and that they have been watching our 
movements,” remarked John. 

“In that case,” remarked Uraso, “I favor the 


230 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


route to tlie east, which, while it may offer us still 
greater obstacles, in view of our observations there, 
still it might enable us the more quickly to overcome 
the tribe we have just met. ’ ’ 

The boys looked at each other significantly. 
wonder what Uraso can he talking about? There 
must he something very much out of the usual, in 
the eastern part of the island. ’ ’ 

am interested in knowing what he means by 
Ghe observation^ they made there, responded 
Harry. 


CHAPTER XIX 


FIGHT WITH NATIVES AND KETUEN TO WONDER ISLAND 

When the Pioneer sailed for Unity it was with the 
understanding that she was to return within a week 
or ten days. At a cliff in the headland, which jutted 
out on the southern side of the bay, a sort of post 
office station was established, because if the ship 
should return while they were in the interior, it 
would be well for the commander of the Pioneer to 
know where to go in the event that the eastern or 
the northern coast should be much more convenient 
for John and his party. 

It was nearly a hundred miles from the Island to 
Wonder Island, and there would be no occasion for 
the Professor to hurry back a relief, except to supply 
additional ammunition, because they did not for an 
instant expect to meet a tribe that would give them 
such a fight. 

There was still enough to provide, probably five 
rounds per man, so that it made them a pretty re- 
spectable fighting force. The weather was such that 
the force on the island did not require tents for 
shelter, and with the native fruits the party could 
well subsist for quite a time without assistance. 

It was agreed that the party should keep together, 
and no straggling be permitted, as it was evident 
they had a very bitter foe to deal with. The severely 

231 


232 ADVENTUEES ON STEANGE ISLANDS 


wounded Chief, who was taken along, was under the 
personal charge of the Professor, the understanding 
being that as soon as his wounds were satisfactorily 
progressing, an effort would be made to open up 
communication with him, and through that channel 
they could reach the inhabitants of the island, and 
thus advise them that they did not mean to do them 
an injury. 

wonder if that isn’t the real reason why John 
does not want to go for the fellows who attacked us,” 
asked George. 

‘ ‘ That may be so. It never occurred to me before. 
It seems to me, though,’’ answered Harry, ‘^that 
they will get but little out of that fellow in a week’s 
time. You know they are very much reserved at 
times. ’ ’ 

‘‘Or stubborn,” suggested George. 

One of the things that J ohn was careful about re- 
lated to the organization of the force, so that it would 
at all times be ready for action. In order to carry 
out this idea and make it effectual, he divided the 
fighters into two squads of twenty-five men each, 
under the commands of Uraso and Muro, the ar- 
rangement being such that one squad should have 
charge of the patrolling and picketing for a period 
of two days, and then the other should take charge 
for a like time. 

There was always the most perfect accord between 
the two Chiefs, and John wisely allowed them to ar- 
range those matters in such a way as would be most 
satisfactory to them. 


FIGHT WITH NATIVES 


233 


Before noon the following day the force marched 
ont from Security Harbor, as they had named the 
bay, and took up the trail made by John and his 
party two days before. 

^AVe have names for the two islands, and for 
about all the principal points, but we have no name 
for this place,” said Harry, as they were marching 
along. 

Quite true,” answered George, reflectively. 
Then, with a laugh, he said: ‘^As they have can- 
nibals here, according to the evidence so far gath- 
ered, I think Maneta would be a name that would 
tell the story about as well as anything.” And 
George laughed as he made the suggestion. 

He was an adept in applying names, being gen- 
erally the first to make suggestions in that direc- 
tion, and he was rarely at a loss for an apt designa- 
tion. 

The route was over a country which was rich in 
vegetation. During the first ten miles the ascent 
was gradual, and the fruit and nuts were abundant, 
while new species of trees and flowers attracted the 
boys. 

Harry and I have found a plant that has flies 
and other insects all over the leaves, and I believe 
it actually catches and holds. Here is a sample,” 
said George, as he presented a branch to John. 

John examined it carefully. Then he said: 
‘‘This is a plant of which we have several in the 
United States, but none which are as active. This is 
called Venus’ Fly Trap.” 


234 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 



F^g. /6. Fenm^ 


^ ^ That is curious, ’ ^ remarked Harry. ^ ^ I wouldn T 
have paid any attention to it but I saw a fly 
alight on it, and these little feelers seemed to close 

around it, and hold 
it.^’ 

^Ht works on that 
plan exactly. It is in 
that way it gets its 
food.’’ 

^ ‘ But why should 
the feelers be able to 
grasp the fly the mo- 
ment it touches the 
leaf?” 

^‘Do you recall 
about what the Professor told you of the peculiar 
power of plants to absorb food of particular kinds 
by a faculty called ir r it ability 

‘^Yes; I remember.” 

^‘By means of that, plants are enabled to select 
just the kinds of substances that they want, and can 
digest. If you will carefully notice the leaf, after it 
has seized a fly it will be observed that the leaf 
exudes a watery substance, and that has the property 
of digesting the fly, or of converting the liquid part 
of the insect into a form of food which is taken 
through the leaf, and from the leaf it goes into the 
plant itself.” 

thought plants got their food from the roots 
only?” 

‘‘Leaves are just the same as roots. They are 


FIGHT WITH NATIVES 


235 


terminals, and moisture as well as foods, such, for 
instance, as nitrogen, is absorbed and fed to the plant 
through the leaves.’^ 

As they progressed they could see evidences of 
human occupation, and in many places the remains 
of fire. It was while making a detour from the reg- 
ular route taken by John that they saw the first 
startling thing. 

It was found at a place where a rude hut was dis- 
covered in a dilapidated condition. Directly behind 
the hut was a raised sort of dais, supported on two 
posts, and this was filled with human skulls, all in 
an advanced stage of decay. 

It was noticed only by accident, as the area around 
the hut was thickly groAvn up by the vegetation. 
The boys were naturally startled at the sight. 

‘‘What does that meanT’ asked Harry. 

John replied: “This is evidence that the people 
here are head hunters.’’ 

“Wliat do you mean by head hunters? 

“Certain savages have the belief that their im- 
portance depends on the number of heads they can 
capture. ’ ’ 

“Where do they get them?” 

“It is necessary for them to kill their enemies, and 
impale the heads, or nail them up to their huts.” 

“Is it a religious ceremony?” 

“In some cases that is so. In some tribes the 
object is merely to show bravery and manliness. 
The more heads a man possesses the braver he is.” 

The vicinity of the hut was carefully examined, 
112 


236 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


and Uraso brought to John a very curiously ar- 
ranged shell, with a handle to it. It was, in fact, a 
rattle. John took the article, and after examining 
it for some time, remarked : 

These people will be difficult to deal with; very 
difficult.’’ 

‘‘Why do you form that conclusion from the ex- 
amination of the rattle?” 

“This is a vele.” 

“A vele; and what in the world is that?” 

“A vele is a sort of hoodoo; it is something that 
many natives believe in with such tenacity that if 
any one having this rattle points to him and de- 
clares him veleed, and announces that the veleed one 
will die the next day, he will lay down and actually 
expire as predicted.” 

‘ ‘ Do you believe such tales ? ’ ’ asked Harry. 

“Of course those stories are hard to understand, 
but the missionaries on the Melanesian Islands vouch 
for many things similar to that. In 1871, Bishop 
Patterson, one of the missionaries, was murdered by 
the natives of those islands, and many of the facts 
in regard to their customs were then established. ’ ’ 

“But how do they work the vele?” 

“The place where the vele is worked to the most 
unlimited extent is in the Island of Guadalcaner, one 
of the Solomon Islands, although it has its counter- 
part in many other places. The vele rattler is care- 
fully kept in a bamboo box, and when the owner 
wishes to destroy an enemy he takes the vele, and 
searches for him. 


FIGHT WITH NATIVES 


237 


‘Hn doing so he must not be seen by any one. If 
be is seen the vele will not be etfective. When be 
finds bis enemy the vele is pointed to the man, and the 
rattles shaken, and while doing so the one exorcising 
the spell must turn bis face away and utter curses. 
As soon as bis enemy bears this, be turns to see who 
has veleed him, and be then glances around to see 
if any one has seen the vele.’’ 

‘‘Are you sure that the rattle is for that pur- 
pose?” 

“There is no question of it, and it is an evidence 
that the natives are intensely superstitious, and such 
people are very difficult to deal with. ’ ’ 

“I suppose we shall have witch doctors to deal 
with here?” asked George. 

“That is a very natural supposition.” 

‘ ‘ Did you see some of these things when you came 
over here yesterday?” 

“Yes.” 

It was evident to both boys that they were going 
direct to the mountains, and the general character 
of the surroundings reminded them so much of the 
mountains on Wonder Island, that they felt assured 
John would be able to find the cave for which he was 
searching. 

That night they encamped on a small stream which 
was, no doubt, formed by a spring, as its waters were 
deliciously cool, and refreshing. 

During that night, shortly after twelve o’clock, the 
boys heard the most peculiar noises, like a doleful, 
continuous cry, echoed and reechoed from hill to 


238 ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


mountain, — something indescribable, but they re- 
frained from saying anything to John .about it. 

Some of the boys who were present and heard it 
were singularly atfected, and it must be said that the 
boys themselves, notwithstanding the experiences 
they had passed through, were not altogether com- 
posed in their minds. 

When Uraso and Muro appeared next morning, 
after a night of scouting, they were startled by the 
accounts which were furnished, as to the number and 
warlike character of the inhabitants, and a council 
was held to decide whether it would be advisable to 
proceed with their limited force. 

If they knew, beyond question, that the island was 
occupied by another tribe, it might enable them to 
make peace mth one of them, and thus pave the way 
for approaching these people. 

It was unfortunate that the first contact with the 
natives brought them into open hostilities, much as 
they desired to avoid it, but it was too late now. 

‘‘From your investigations,’^ said John, address- 
ing the two chiefs, “can you give any idea of the 
number of natives in this tribe?” 

“We were unable to get near the village, but dur- 
ing the night we touched three different parties, one 
over by the high ridge, one a mile to the front, and 
the other over in the open ground not far from the 
place we had the fight. If I can judge anything by 
that I should say they have a number of warriors,” 
answered Uraso. 


FIGHT WITH NATIVES 


239 


‘‘That does, indeed, look as though they are ready 
to meet us from whatever direction we may attack 
them,’’ remarked John. 

“The thing which is the most singular to me,” 
remarked Muro, “is the way they are coming at us 
after the fight over there. If they were a weak lot 
they would draw off, and keep away from us, and 
that makes me think they have a lot of warriors, and 
are simply waiting until they can collect all of 
them.” 

“We must do one of two things,” ventured John, 
on reflection. ‘ ‘ Either to go on with the men we have, 
or to wait until the Pioneer returns, and then go 
back with her and fit out a force of ample size to meet 
them. It is our wish to win over the people by 
peaceful means, but our weakness may be the worst 
possible way of accomplishing that purpose.” 

Uraso and Muro were both in favor of returning 
and waiting for the Pioneer, as they knew it would 
be likely to show up within the next three days, and 
their views decided the matter. 

“Under the circumstances we must leave this 
place before it is too late in the day, or we may have 
trouble in reaching the landing, although we can 
easily hold them off with our rifles, but we must 
avoid bloodshed,” and on this point John was in- 
sistent. 

The camp was astir and all the equipment in hand 
within fifteen minutes, although they had not yet 
partaken of breakfast. Uraso took the first turn, as 


240 ADVENTUKES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


commander of tlie rear guard, while the main body 
hurried on to cross the valley, before the savages 
could get the first notice of the retirement. 

Notwithstanding the great caution displayed, sev- 
eral shots were heard before the slope on the other 
side was reached, and they knew that Uraso was 
engaged. 

It is difficult, sometimes, to know just how in- 
formation travels among savage people, but in this 
case, the peculiar heatings of the drums which could 
be heard in the dim distance, was sufficient to satisfy 
Muro that they had watchers, and a signaling means 
from treetops and from the crests of the great hills 
all around them. 

An hour afterwards Uraso ’s men were seen in the 
distance, and, although they had fired no more shots, 
it was evident that the natives were now in force and 
pressing against him with all their might. Only the 
consummate skill of Uraso prevented them from 
rushing the men under his command. 

But the top of the hill was reached; the landing 
was not much more than a mile beyond that, and 
John hurriedly took a half dozen men, and George 
and Harry with him, in order to select the final line 
of defense within reach of the landing place, while 
Uraso and Muro held them in check. 

The boys were ahead of the little party, swinging 
along and trying to get to the elevated point which 
J ohn indicated as the most available place, when two 
powerful natives sprang across their path, and be- 
fore either could draw a weapon, they were pounced 


FIGHT WITH NATIVES 241 

upon and seized by two more who approached from 
the rear. 

With great presence of mind Harry cocked and 
fired the gun which his captors were struggling for. 
The shot went through the arm of the native who had 
seized George, and the latter, now free, raised his 
rifle and brought it down with all force on the near- 
est one. 

John and the men with him needed no further in- 
formation as to the situation. They were practically 
surrounded. That was his first thought; but, as no 
more natives appeared, and the two remaining sav- 
ages started on a run it began to be evident that they 
were only scouts who expected an easy capture of 
the two boys. 

There was no more straggling or running ahead 
after that. Uraso and the rear guard came up with 
a rush on hearing the shots, but were reassured when 
they saw the party intact. 

The heights were gained, and before they could 
arrange for the defense the natives appeared from 
three quarters, and held oif a quarter of a mile be- 
yond. 

During the following day John tried to establish 
communications with the natives, but they rebuffed 
all efforts, and the arrival of the Pioneer was anx- 
iously awaited. 

On the third day the natives were observed closer 
at various points, and they began to grow bolder, but 
at noon of the fourth day the sharp eyes of Muro dis- 
covered the glimpse of a sail to the west. 


242 ADVENTUEES ON STRANGE ISLANDS 


Within two hours the form of the ship could be 
seen. The Pioneer was making for the landing, and 
a cheer went up from the men at the welcome sight. 

There was not much difficulty in descending the 
cliffs and establishing communications with the ves- 
sel, and within an hour they were aboard and the 
natives could plainly be seen coming down the op- 
posite slope waving defiance to the ship. 

The next day the Pioneer sailed up Enterprise 
River. The people in Unity were anxious to learn of 
the new island, and to hear of the exploits with the 
savage tribe which the boys had encountered. 

^The Treasures of the Islands,’^ the next book in 
this series, relates the further experiences of the 
boys upon their return to Rescue Island. 


THE END 


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